India great Rohit Sharma has shrugged off talk about his international future after scoring a century against England in the ODI series decider at Lord’s.
Rumours emerged during India’s defeat in the second ODI at Cardiff on Thursday that the 39-year-old could be close to retirement with the Lord’s fixture a possible farewell, although that was then denied by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
Rohit went on to score 138 versus England, his 34th ODI hundred, but could not prevent India from slipping to a 2-1 series defeat, hot on the heels of a 4-0 T20 drubbing.
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Sky Sports pundit Ravi Shastri says Rohit ‘shut everyone up’ with his century against England after rumours of him being phased out of the ODI side
Speaking to bcci.tv after the game, Rohit said: “Look, my job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country, represent the team. That’s what I’ve been told to do since I made my debut so that’s what I’m going to do.
“The noise since I made my debut was there and till the time I’m going to stay here, it’s always going to be there, so it doesn’t really matter too much.
“What matters is what I do on the field: try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s all my focus is right now. And let the noise be there. If there’s no noise, there’s no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside. That’s how I look at it.”
India captain Shubman Gill said after the final ODI that there had been no indication from Rohit that he was set to end an ODI career that has seen him amass nearly 12,000 runs across 288 matches, including three double centuries.
Rohit’s Lords hundred featured 17 fours and five sixes
Gill told reporters: “He has not told us anything. I think it is all out in the media. But there’s not been any discussion like that in the team.”
The 2027 50-over World Cup would seem the perfect stage for Rohit, who turns 40 in April, to end his career, although that decision could be taken out of his hands by selectors.
The right-hander, who quit T20 international cricket in 2024 and retired from the Test arena a year later, registered scores of 11 and 26 against England prior to his Lord’s ton.
