When Rohit Sharma lifted the T20 World Cup in 2024, it wasn’t just another trophy, it ended India’s 11-year wait for an ICC title. A year later, he did it again with the Champions Trophy. Under his leadership, India won 22 of their last 23 ICC matches, a record that stands tall among the greats. Yet, as whispers grow of a new era in Indian cricket, the man who made India a champion again has been quietly pushed aside. For millions of fans, it feels like an ending that lacks dignity.
Selectors’ Decision: A Harsh Goodbye Without a Goodbye
Rohit Sharma will not continue as captain for upcoming ODI assignments, with selectors planning for the 2027 World Cup and appointing Shubman Gill as the new skipper. Sure, at 40, it makes sense to look at the future. But the way it’s been handled, without a farewell series as captain, without acknowledgment, feels brutally cold.
Rohit wasn’t just a captain; he was the heartbeat of Indian cricket’s resurgence. The least he deserved was one final series to lead his men, and let the nation applaud him one last time.
Stats That Prove Rohit Sharma’s Brilliance as Captain
Rohit’s ODI captaincy numbers are staggering:
- Highest win percentage among captains with 20+ matches in multi-nation ODI tournaments, better than Ricky Ponting and Clive Lloyd.
- Second-best overall ODI win percentage among captains (50+ matches), ahead of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
- As captain, he averaged 52.2 with a strike rate of 112, higher than his career average of 93.
Simply put, Rohit Sharma didn’t just lead, he elevated his own game and his team’s standards.
Why a Farewell Series Matters
Cricket is more than just stats and strategies, it’s also about respect, legacy, and emotion.
A farewell series as captain wouldn't have been charity; it’d have been acknowledgment. For someone who carried India’s hopes and heartbreaks with grace, Rohit deserved it.
