‘You can’t play forever’: Matthew Hayden’s candid message on Rohit Sharma’s future

Indian Rohit Sharma (ANI Image)

Rohit Sharma’s place in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans remains a matter of debate, but the former Australia opener Matthew Hayden It is believed that the decision on how long the veteran batsman wants to continue will ultimately fall on Rohit himself.Rohit, now retired from Test and T20I cricket, exclusively plays ODI matches for India. Hayden feels the 39-year-old will have to evaluate whether he still has the hunger, energy and motivation required to handle the demands of international cricket along with the Indian Premier League.Speaking to ANI, Hayden said the retirement debate is something every veteran eventually faces and stressed that there is no definitive answer other than the player himself knowing when it is time to stop.“Look, when you get to Rohit’s age, you start facing those questions. Before him, it was Virat, and before that, it was Gautam Gambhir. It goes on and on. You can’t play this beautiful game forever. When you reach this stage of your career, you will inevitably be asked whether it is the Indian Premier League (IPL) or international cricket that comes first. Rohit has already retired from Test cricket, so only he can ultimately tell if he is still fighting a lion to keep charging through a very tough schedule. You need a young man’s energy to compete at the highest level. So, in the end, the decision will be entirely his,” Hayden told ANI.However, Rohit continued to provide evidence that age alone should not determine his international future.Questions have increased about the possibilities of him joining the 2027 World Cup squad due to his age, especially after he had already moved away from both systems. Speculation reached another level during India’s ODI tour of England, with reports suggesting that the third ODI at Lord’s could be his last appearance for the country.Instead, Rohit produced one of the standout performances of the series.Chasing 388 in the decider, the former India captain smashed 138 off just 110 balls, hitting 17 fours and five sixes. His innings helped silence much of the speculation surrounding his future, although India ultimately fell short by 27 runs.Rohit finished the three-match series with 175 runs at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 98.31.His performance in the chase was made even more remarkable by his partnership with his long-time India teammate Virat Kohliwho contributed 74 off 60 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Despite their efforts, India lost the series 2-1.Rohit remains one of the most prolific ODI batsmen in the history of the format. He scored 11,895 runs in 288 matches and 280 innings at an average of 48.95 and a strike rate of 93.04.His ODI record includes 34 centuries and 62 fifties, with his highest score being 264. He currently stands seventh in the all-time ODI run-scorers list and is the third highest for India in the format, behind Virat Kohli who has scored 14,941 runs and Sachin Tendulkar who has scored 18,426.Even in 2026, Rohit continues to contribute significantly. In nine ODIs this year, he has amassed 379 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.11, with a hundred and a fifty. His highest score remains the 138 which he scored against England.The 2027 World Cup is scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and Rohit’s future will remain under the microscope. But Hayden’s point is clear: if the veteran still has the desire and physical ability to meet the demands of international cricket, the final decision should be up to him.