Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer showered praise on Rohit Sharma after India suffered a 27-run loss against England at Lord’s on Sunday. 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 brilliant knock of 138 runs off 110 balls in the third ODI at the iconic venue on Sunday 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 lost the series by 2-1.

The veteran batter scored 17 fours and five sixes in his blistering knock as he batted at the top of his game. Jaffer reckons India could have won the game if Rohit had stayed at the crease for another five-six overs.

Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “It was a magnificent innings. The way he paced his knock was outstanding. Perhaps if he had stayed at the crease for another five or six overs, India could have won that match. But this is what Rohit Sharma brings to the table. I feel that a player of his stature should not be questioned. If he is motivated and wants to play in the 2027 World Cup, then I think we need to allow him to do that because he knows how to perform in big pressure situations, and he proved it once again. This is the Rohit Sharma we want for the 2027 World Cup.”

Jaffer added that Rohit is aware if he can get off to a start in the first five-six overs, he can go on to get a big score.

“In ODI cricket, Rohit knows that if he gets through the first five to seven overs by taking his time, then scoring a hundred becomes much easier for him. He knows that once he gets past that phase, there are plenty of opportunities to score because five fielders remain inside the circle, the bowling changes, and that gives him a lot of chances to find the boundaries.”

Rohit would look to carry his good form against the West Indies in the next series.