Rohit Sharma's Coach Dinesh Lad Confirms His Future: 'He'll Retire After...'

Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach hails his Australia heroics as proof he’s far from done, revealing the ex-India skipper plans to play the 2027 World Cup before retiring.

Rohit Sharma’s Player of the Series Performance against Australia in the recent three-match tour should give him enough breathing space to make a real case for the 2027 ODI World Cup. As expected, he didn’t look in perfect control initially, considering he returned after a several-month-long break, but slowly grew in rhythm to score 202 runs in three chances, averaging 101 and striking at 85.59.

Dinesh Lad, his childhood coach, called his match-winning 121* a ‘special’ knock and an answer to his critics. Lad declared that it was Rohit’s self-confidence that had driven this performance and the reason why he hasn’t retired yet, confirming that the Mumbaikar aims to hang his shoes only after the 2027 World Cup.

“This is a special moment," Lad told PTI Videos. “There were talks that he was not performing, that he should stop playing cricket, but he played two good innings in the last two matches, 75 (73) first and now 120 (121*), and has shown he is still a top player who’ll still contribute to the country… The only secret is his self-confidence. That’s why he hasn’t retired. He wants to play the 2027 World Cup and only retire after that, and he’s preparing for that."

Rohit is 38 and would be 40 by the time of the World Cup. Players before him have managed to play the marquee tournament at that age but it’s particularly difficult in India where the competition for places from younger, fitter and more exciting talents is ever-increasing.

‘They are close friends’: Lad on Rohit-Kohli relationship

Lad also rubbished rumors of discord between Rohit and Virat Kohli, who hit an unbeaten 74 in a 168-run partnership with the opener to help secure a nine-wicket win for India in Sydney, which prevented a series whitewash.

“There were a lot of ugly talks about Virat. A lot of people were saying a lot of bad things. But I had said that he’d perform. Both did well. I want to see them play the 2027 World Cup. Many said there was friction between Rohit and Virat, but that’s not true; they are close friends and play for the nation. If that were the case, this partnership and win for the nation wouldn’t have happened," Lad added.

Click here to read article