Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has sparked a significant debate by openly calling for star batsman Rohit Sharma’s retirement from international cricket. Tiwary views Sharma’s recent replacement by Shubman Gill as the ODI captain as an “unwarranted humiliation.”
This key development sees Shubman Gill now leading India in the One-Day International format. Despite persistent speculation regarding their long-term futures in ODIs, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have reportedly expressed their desire to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup, even though India is slated to play a relatively limited number of 50-over matches leading up to the marquee event.
“I genuinely believe Rohit is no longer part of the selectors’ long-term plans. His future now hinges entirely on his individual performance,” Tiwary candidly stated in an interview with CricTracker. “If I were in Rohit Sharma’s shoes, I would seriously consider retirement after this. A player of his stature simply doesn’t deserve to be subjected to this kind of disrespect.”
Tiwary further emphasized, “From my personal perspective, he shouldn’t continue after facing such an insult. It would be far more honorable for him to step away on his own terms before he is eventually pushed out, thereby preserving his dignity.”
In the immediate future, India is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series, followed by a five-match T20I series, against Australia.
Rohit Sharma’s record in One-Day Internationals is truly legendary. He has accumulated an impressive 11,168 runs across 273 matches and 265 innings, maintaining a remarkable average of 48.76 and a striking strike rate of 92.80. His illustrious career includes 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries, positioning him as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs.
His exceptional performance extends to matches played in Australia, where he boasts an excellent ODI record of 1,328 runs in 30 matches at an average of 53.12 and a strike rate exceeding 90. This tally includes five centuries and four fifties, with a personal best of 171 not out.
Since first taking on the ODI captaincy in 2017, Rohit has led India in 56 matches, securing an impressive 42 victories and suffering only 12 defeats, with one match ending in a no-result and another in a tie. His remarkable 75% win rate statistically places him among the most successful white-ball captains.
Under Rohit’s astute leadership, India clinched the Asia Cups in both 2018 and 2023, reached the finals of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup at home, and triumphed in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai this year. His exceptional performance in ICC tournaments—losing just one out of 23 games across three major events while securing two titles—is widely celebrated as one of the most outstanding captaincy spells in white-ball cricket history.