Rohit Sharma’s Swansong Looms: 2023 World Cup Farewell?

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In the wake of India’s triumphant series win over the West Indies in their previous One Day International (ODI) assignment, all-format captain Rohit Sharma has finally opened up about his future plans with the Virat Kohli-starrer side. Dubbed the “Hitman,” the veteran opener Rohit succeeded ex-India skipper Virat Kohli as the all-format captain in 2021. Since then, he has led the team with remarkable success, guiding India to the semi-finals of the ICC World T20 and the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia at The Oval.

With back-to-back finals appearances in ICC events, the Asian giants are now yearning to end their trophy drought in the upcoming 2023 edition of the ODI World Cup, to be hosted on home soil. However, amidst the anticipation surrounding the upcoming World Cup, there is one question that continues to linger in the minds of cricket enthusiasts: Will the 2023 World Cup mark the swansong of Rohit Sharma’s illustrious career? 

Rohit Shares retirement plans 

At a recent promotional event in the United States, Rohit Sharma finally lifted the lid on his retirement talks, putting speculations to rest. The 36-year-old batting maestro shared his views about the US co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup, expressing excitement for the forthcoming edition in June. “More than just going and enjoying, there is another reason to come here (in the USA). Because you know the World Cup is coming. In June, there will be the T20 World Cup happening in this part of the world. So, I’m pretty sure everyone is excited. So yaa, we look forward to that,” Rohit said in a video shared on Twitter. 

This revelation comes as a sigh of relief for fans and followers of the Indian cricket team, who were eagerly awaiting clarity on Rohit’s future plans. It indicates that the talented batsman is not contemplating stepping away from the shortest format of the game anytime soon, much to the delight of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. 

Rohit unfazed by rumours 

Rohit’s absence from the recent five-match T20I series against the West Indies, in the crucial ODI World Cup year, raised questions about his form and fitness. However, the Indian team management’s decision to rest him was based on the necessity to manage the workload of key players ahead of the upcoming marquee event. In Rohit’s stead, the charismatic all-rounder Hardik Pandya stepped up to lead the Indian side, particularly in the shorter formats. Speculation is rife that Hardik Pandya is being tipped as the successor to Rohit Sharma as India’s next white-ball captain. 

But Rohit, known for his remarkable poise and calm demeanour on the field, remains unfazed by such rumours. In a press conference, he clarified, “At the moment, I think it was made clear in the past that it’s a 50-over World Cup year for us. And for some of the guys, it’s not possible to play all formats. If you look at the schedule, there were back-to-back matches, so we decided on just looking at some players’ workloads that we wanted to make sure that they get enough break time and manage them. I definitely fall in that (category) as well.” 

His words undoubtedly reassure fans that Rohit Sharma’s passion for the game and dedication to representing India remains unwavering. As the stage is set for the 2023 ODI World Cup, Indian cricket enthusiasts can expect to witness the majestic “Hitman” lead his troops with panache and grace. 

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