Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar believes the upcoming ODI series against England will provide Rohit Sharma with the ideal platform to demonstrate that he remains India’s first-choice opener for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
India captain Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli (subject to availability), is set to return to international action during the three-match ODI series against England, scheduled from July 14 to July 19. Both senior batters now feature only in the 50-over format for India following their retirements from Tests and T20Is.
Speaking during an interaction organised by Sony Sports, Gavaskar said Rohit is fully aware of what is expected of him over the next 18 months leading up to the World Cup.
‘Rohit Knows Exactly Where He Stands’
Gavaskar dismissed suggestions that the discussions surrounding Rohit’s future would affect the Indian skipper, saying scrutiny has followed him throughout his career.
“When has there not been a lot of talk about Rohit Sharma? There has always been a lot of talk about Rohit Sharma,” Gavaskar said.
The former India captain believes there has already been clear communication between Rohit and the team management regarding his future.
“He knows where he stands. I think there obviously has been a clear sort of information flow from those who matter and Rohit Sharma. He knows exactly where he stands and all that he needs to do over the next year-and-a-half leading up to the World Cup is to consistently deliver.”
Gavaskar added that Rohit’s vast experience and natural ability should help him handle any external pressure.
“I don’t think he’s the kind of person who feels any pressure with the talent and the ability that he has. England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he’ll be there opening the batting for India.”
Scrutiny Never Ends For Indian Cricketers
According to Gavaskar, every Indian cricketer faces constant evaluation from the moment they make their international debut, regardless of age or experience.
“When you are a young player making a debut, the scrutiny is on you—how you handle international pressure, whether you have the temperament and the appetite for international competition.”
“The scrutiny starts from there and it hardly ever ends as far as Indian cricket is concerned. So the scrutiny being on them is not going to be something new for them.”
He said experienced players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli understand that consistent performances remain the only way to silence critics.
“They know how to handle the pressure and they know that the only way is to keep on scoring runs, to keep on taking the catches that come their way, affect the run-outs and, at the same time, be at hand to the captain to give their advice because of the experience they have had as captains.”
Fitness Becomes The Biggest Talking Point After 35
Gavaskar pointed out that once cricketers cross the age of 35, public attention shifts from temperament to physical fitness.
“As you age and come post 35, the scrutiny is more on your physical conditioning and fitness rather than the temperament.”
However, he believes both Rohit and Kohli possess enough experience to deal with those challenges comfortably.
“With the experience that they have, they’ll be able to take care of that quite easily.”
Current White-Ball Team Can Leave A Lasting Legacy
Looking beyond the senior stars, Gavaskar expressed confidence that India’s current white-ball squad has the potential to dominate world cricket for years to come.
He acknowledged that minor changes would naturally occur over time but believes the team’s core group has the quality to build a memorable legacy.
“There will be a little tweak here and there, surely, but when you look at the core which is going to be there for the next eight to ten years, if not more, I do believe that this team has the capability of leaving a very lasting, very enjoyable legacy when they finish with their cricket.”
Gavaskar Surprised By Ben Stokes’ Retirement Timing
Gavaskar also reacted to England all-rounder Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket, admitting that the timing caught him off guard.
He had expected Stokes to complete England’s home season before announcing his decision.
“I thought he would probably retire at the end of the season, play against Pakistan, and when England’s home season ends, that is when I thought he would probably call it a day.”
“The surprise is only in the timing, a little bit earlier than what I thought. Somebody of his calibre, quality and impact not being in the team is always very good for the opposition,” Gavaskar concluded.