Dubai, March 12 – Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes that Rohit Sharma remains a formidable player and could continue leading the Indian team until the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. As per agency report, Ponting emphasized that Rohit has achieved success in every ICC tournament except the ODI World Cup and will likely aim for the prestigious title before considering retirement.
Under Rohit's captaincy, India came close to winning the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil but fell short in the final against Australia. Ponting, speaking on ICC Review, stated that Rohit appears to have a clear vision for his future in cricket and is determined to continue performing at the highest level.
The former Australian captain remarked that discussions about a player's retirement often intensify when they reach a certain stage in their career, even when they are still performing well. He highlighted Rohit’s crucial innings in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand as proof of his continued excellence. Ponting believes that Rohit wanted to put an end to speculation about his retirement and affirm his commitment to the Indian team.
Rohit took over as India's captain in 2021 at the age of 34, and under his leadership, India secured the Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand in the final by four wickets. Prior to that, he had led India to victory in the T20 World Cup held in the West Indies. In the Champions Trophy final, India chased down a target of 252 with Rohit scoring a crucial 76 off 83 balls, setting the foundation for an easy win.
Following the final, Rohit categorically dismissed retirement rumors during a press conference, stating that he had no plans to step away from the format and urging people to stop spreading misinformation.
Ponting believes that Rohit's desire to win an ODI World Cup could be a driving force behind his decision to continue playing. He suggested that after the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup final loss, Rohit might be determined to have another shot at the title. Given his performance in the Champions Trophy final, Ponting asserted that Rohit remains at the top of his game and should not be written off.
