Matthew Hayden on Rohit Sharma's Future: "It Will Be His Call"

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has said questions over Rohit Sharma’s international future are inevitable as the Indian batter enters the latter stages of his career. Rohit, who is 38, remains keen to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup, but India’s selectors are yet to finalise their long-term plans for the tournament. His recent performances have strengthened his case, even as discussions continue over how long he can remain a regular at the highest level.

Rohit was under scrutiny during India’s recent England ODI tour, with speculation that the three-match series could potentially be his last. The veteran opener responded strongly by scoring a century at Lord’s in the series decider. He finished the three-match series with 175 runs at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 98.31, including a spectacular 138 off 110 balls featuring 17 fours and five sixes. India ultimately lost the match by 27 runs during their chase of 388.

Hayden said Rohit’s age naturally brings questions about whether he can continue playing international cricket for much longer. He noted that similar discussions have surrounded several Indian greats as they approached the final stages of their careers. According to Hayden, players reaching this point are inevitably asked whether they will eventually step away from international cricket or the Indian Premier League first. He said there is no way for a player to continue playing the sport at the highest level indefinitely.

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“Look, when you get to the age Rohit is at, you start facing those questions,” Hayden said, adding that Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir had also faced similar discussions during their careers. He said the decision eventually comes down to the individual player and how long they believe they can continue meeting the demands of top-level cricket. Rohit has already retired from Test cricket, leaving ODI cricket as his remaining international format.

Hayden also highlighted the physical demands associated with continuing international cricket at Rohit’s age. He said the veteran batter would ultimately have to assess whether he still has the energy and motivation required to compete at the highest level. The former Australia opener stressed that only Rohit can determine whether he is physically and mentally ready to continue through the demanding international schedule. His future, therefore, is likely to depend not only on his performances but also on his own assessment of his fitness and ability to sustain the workload.

For now, Rohit’s recent ODI performances provide a strong argument for his continued involvement, particularly with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon. His century at Lord’s showed that he remains capable of producing match-defining innings despite being in the latter phase of his career. However, India’s selectors will eventually have to balance his experience and current form with the need to build a team capable of competing at the next World Cup. As Hayden put it, the final decision will ultimately be Rohit’s, with his ability to handle the demands of international cricket likely to remain central to the debate.

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