​If he retires, it will mark the end of an era: Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach sends a heartfelt message as the 2027 ODI World Cup looms large. This piece originally appeared on Cricket News, with a note to add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Dinesh Lad, who has watched Rohit grow from his boyhood days, hopes to see the star bat for India in the 2027 World Cup. He describes Rohit’s potential farewell as the end of a cricketing era, while choosing to refrain from critiquing selectors and instead praising Rohit’s leadership and character as much as his prowess with the bat.
As Rohit faces what could be his final innings for India at Lord’s on a Sunday against England, Lad reflected on what such a farewell would signify for Indian cricket. Asked whether Lord’s could witness Rohit’s last appearance for the national team, Lad did not hesitate: his sole dream is to see Rohit participate in the 2027 World Cup. In an interview with ABP News, Lad shared his personal wish: “I want Rohit to play the World Cup; I have only one dream—that Rohit should be seen playing in the 2027 World Cup.”
Reports citing The Indian Express indicate that the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee met with Sharma, alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir, last week to discuss their plans for the 2027 tournament. The conversations reportedly signaled that the selectors have identified Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit’s potential successor and want him to receive an extended run ahead of the global event. It was further noted that Rohit was informed the team management did not consider him for the England series, with Jaiswal favored in his stead. The update stressed that while Rohit’s fitness improvements are acknowledged, they would not alter the selectors’ strategic decisions, and Rohit would determine his next steps in his career.
When Lad was asked whether Rohit’s recent dips in form might explain why the selectors appear to be looking elsewhere, he replied that form is fluid, but his desire remains the same: Rohit should play in the 2027 World Cup. Lad’s stance is clear—he wants his pupil to continue playing at all costs, and he concedes that such a decision would compellingly signal the end of an era. “If he retires, it will definitely be the end of an era,” Lad asserted. “Rohit is a great player. His form fluctuates, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. I can’t comment on the selectors’ thinking, but I want to see him play in the World Cup.”
When the topic turned to Rohit’s age—39—and whether that might influence the selectors’ calculations, Lad again chose restraint, declining to speculate and reiterating that Rohit deserves to continue playing at this moment. Regarding Rohit’s potential loss of the captaincy following the 2025 Champions Trophy, Lad avoided commenting on any decisions, underscoring his stance of not speaking against the system or the processes in place.
There is something quietly poignant in a coach choosing restraint over criticism when asked to weigh in on a system that has shaped a career as storied as Rohit Sharma’s. Lad’s insistence on focusing on Rohit’s ongoing value and the future possibility of a global stage remains a resonant reminder of the hopes that anchor Indian cricket—hopes that Rohit’s presence in the 2027 World Cup could crystallize a legendary chapter in the sport’s history.