‘What more do you want?’: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia’s candid message on Rohit Sharma amid 2027 World Cup speculation | Cricket news
NEW DELHI: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has spoken out against the growing speculation over Rohit Sharma’s ODI future, insisting that the former India skipper continues to perform at a high level and questions why his place in the team is being debated.Speaking after a high-level review meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Thursday, Saikia offered a strong defense of the 39-year-old, whose future has once again become a major point of discussion as the 2027 ODI World Cup approaches.“He is playing great in all the matches. What more do you want? In the last match, he scored 138 runs. So why is there speculation? So, I don’t want to fuel these speculations,” Saikia said.His comments came amid reports that the selectors have considered a move on from Rohit in their ODI plans, which could leave his participation in the 2027 World Cup in doubt.
Rohit answered the speculation with a Lord’s century
Speculation intensified during India’s ODI tour of England earlier this year, with reports suggesting that the Lord’s ODI could be Rohit’s final appearance in an India jersey.Instead, Rohit responded in style – with a remarkable performance.He smashed 138 at Lord’s, becoming the oldest Indian to score an ODI century at the famous venue, although his effort came in a losing cause. The innings showed once again why questions about his future were accompanied by equally strong arguments for his retention.After the England tour, Rohit made it clear that the constant speculation does not concern him.“If there’s no noise, there’s no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside.” He said: “That’s how I look at it. The hype since I made my debut has been there. Until the time I stay here, it will always be there. It doesn’t really matter that much. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try to contribute to the team’s success. That’s all I’m focused on.”Rohit retired from Test cricket in 2025 and from T20Is in 2024, leaving ODI cricket as his only remaining international format.The latest comments from Saikia came after a meeting attended by the head coach Gautam GambhirODI Captain Shubman GillT20I captain Shreyas IyerPresident of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mithun Manhas and Saikia.The secretary had already backed Rohit ahead of the Lord’s match, saying on July 17: “Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord’s ODI will not be his last.”Rohit’s age remains an inevitable part of the discussion. He will turn 40 in 2027, the year the next ODI World Cup will be held, and India will inevitably have to think about succession planning.
