Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the timing of the speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s ODI future, saying that if the selectors had already decided not to take the former India captain to the 2027 ODI World Cup, they should have conveyed that decision much earlier instead of allowing uncertainty to linger.
Speculation over Rohit’s international future has intensified ahead of Sunday’s series-deciding third ODI against England at Lord’s, with reports suggesting the selectors are unlikely to consider the former captain for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Ashwin, however, said his concern was not with the decision itself but with the manner in which it has unfolded.
“In his last eight games, Rohit’s form has gone down and it can happen to any player,” Ashwin started in a video on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.
“My problem is with the Indian team itself. We are going to South Africa in September-October, do we need Rohit and Virat? If you ask me, I will want that experience. I know Yashasvi Jaiswal is pushing hard from behind. But as a decision maker, if you ever felt in your mind that these two players are not fit for the 2027 ODI World Cup, that could have been communicated at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy,” added the off-spinner.
Jaiswal has emerged as Rohit’s strongest challenger for the opening slot. The left-hander has already established himself in India’s Test side and is waiting for a regular opportunity in ODIs despite scoring a century in his last appearance.
Ashwin said the issue was not simply about selection but about the delay in taking a call.
“Communication is a double-headed sword, players will never feel good. But by pure performance, they have not been poor at all. Virat has been excellent, Rohit has been more than decent,” Ashwin observed.
“Why have we let it come till 2026 August when it is just 10-12 months left for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa? Why have we let it come this far? That’s my only question,” asked the former spinner, who finished his career with more than 550 Test wickets.
The Tamil Nadu tweaker also felt senior players such as Rohit and Virat Kohli deserved greater respect if the selectors were planning a transition.
“Players like Rohit and Virat, they deserve respect. There is 12 months to go and this is too late to make a call like this. And the way it is going on, Virat also has to be on top of his game, unfortunately,” Ashwin added.
“In corporates they call it layoffs, but for those who are at senior posts, things are done via smooth communication. My point is if someone has served the team for the past two decades, there needs to be a good exit,” he added.
Rohit’s recent dip in form has fuelled the debate. Since being relieved of the ODI captaincy, he has scored 563 runs in 13 matches at an average of 46.91, including one century and four fifties. However, in 2026, he has managed just one fifty-plus score in eight ODIs, adding to speculation over his future as India begin planning for the 2027 World Cup.