Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif reckons Rohit Sharma has now decided that he will not walk away from ODIs on his own. It was earlier reported that Rohit would play his final ODI game at Lord’s but he answered the critics in style.

Rohit scored a magnificent knock of 138 runs off 110 balls in the third ODI at the iconic venue as he became the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s. However, his efforts went in vain as India could not chase down a gargantuan total of 388 runs and fell short by 27 runs in the end.

The veteran batter scored 17 fours and five sixes in his blistering knock as he batted at the top of his game. This was Rohit’s 34th ODI century and his first of 2026.

“Yes, one thing has become clear. At times, members of the coaching staff come out and say, ‘We have given Rohit Sharma complete freedom to play his natural game.’ But nobody has yet made a clear statement saying, ‘Rohit Sharma is part of our plans for the 2027 World Cup.’ That statement also needs to come. Rohit Sharma’s form will naturally go up and down. He may have a poor series, but the management must say that it is standing behind him. Along with giving him freedom, they should also clearly say that they support him,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

“Since no such statement has been made, there is considerable confusion and a lot of doubt. We are sitting outside, so we do not know exactly what is happening internally. But it appears to me that Rohit Sharma has now decided that he will not walk away on his own,” he added.

Kaif also addressed the multiple speculation regarding Rohit Sharma’s future ahead of the Lord’s ODI. There were a lot of confusion but Rohit decided to put paid to all the rumours. Before the final game at Lord’s, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also ended all the speculations regarding Rohit’s future.

“Twice, he has taken the decision himself. The report that the Lord’s match could be his final ODI was also framed as a possibility. There was a question mark attached to it. But when such reports emerge, they can quickly become much bigger. The BCCI did a very good job by making a statement before the Lord’s match. That intervention became a turning point,” Kaif said.

“There may still be confusion internally — perhaps even among the selectors — about whether to retain him or not. But no final decision has been announced.

“Rohit Sharma should now be given complete freedom to play his game. The BCCI’s statement ensured that the entire focus at Lord’s returned to the cricket. Otherwise, every visual would have fuelled more speculation. People would have said, ‘Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are sitting together and looking very serious, so this must be Rohit’s final match.’ Those rumours would have grown further. The BCCI stopped that narrative at the right time. The BCCI secretary came forward and made a statement, and he deserves credit for that,” he added.

Rohit will be next seen in the ODI series against the West Indies in September.