Hitman Rohit Sharma back in training amid talks of ODI retirement

In Indian cricket, few names carry the weight and respect of Rohit Sharma. An ODI legend, a master of big-match innings, and the man with the third-highest number of hundreds in the format’s history, Rohit has been the backbone of India’s white-ball batting for over a decade. 

But now, as the winds of change sweep through the team after the young Test squad’s heroics in England, the question looms large will the ODI captaincy remain in Rohit’s hands, or is it time for the next generation to take over?

Return After a Break

Following the IPL, Rohit took a couple of months off from cricket, announcing his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the England series and focusing solely on ODIs. After a family holiday in England, he returned to Mumbai last week and wasted no time getting back to work.

On Tuesday, he shared an Instagram story from a suburban gym, training alongside his close friend and former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who has mentored top names like KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Rinku Singh.

Rohit Sharma in the gym session with Abhishek Nayar. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tqqHzdI1An

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 12, 2025

Fighting Spirit

Rohit’s training signals he isn’t ready to hang up his boots yet, with eyes potentially on the 2027 ODI World Cup, still 26 months away. However, some in team management believe he should get a farewell series, possibly against Australia before passing the captaincy to Shubman Gill.

Legacy at Stake

With 32 ODI hundreds, Rohit ranks third on the all-time list, behind only Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. He was also Player of the Match in India’s Champions Trophy final win over New Zealand.

As the BCCI and selectors deliberate, one thing is clear, Rohit Sharma’s fight to remain at the top of ODI cricket isn’t over yet.