Former player Ashwin predicts Rohit Sharma's future after retirement

August 14, 09:20

The career of former captain of the Indian team, Rohit Sharma, is approaching its end. Although he has already stepped away from tests and T20 international matches, numerous speculations surround his ODI career as well. In this regard, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made a significant prediction regarding Rohit.

According to Ashwin, once Rohit retires, he might take on an important role in the Mumbai Indians (MI) team. Under Rohit's leadership, Mumbai Indians have won the IPL title five times. R. Ashwin believes that allowing such a successful captain and a player with outstanding tactical acumen to leave the franchise after his career ends would be a serious mistake.

On his YouTube channel, Ashwin discussed the possibility of Rohit and Virat Kohli transitioning into coaching roles after their careers conclude. During this discussion, he offered specific advice concerning Rohit and the Mumbai Indians. R. Ashwin stated: 'If Rohit decides tomorrow that he will no longer play, Mumbai Indians should immediately sign him. A captain who has won five titles and a leader who brought India the World Cup are not easy to find.'

According to Ashwin, Rohit does not necessarily have to immediately take on the duties of head coach; he could be useful to the team in a mentoring role or another important position. He acknowledged that the role of head coach requires a lot of time and effort, so it is possible that Rohit may not want to take on such a large responsibility immediately after finishing his sporting career. Citing Rahul Dravid as an example, Ashwin noted that Rohit might return to cricket in a different capacity a year or two after retiring.

Ashwin believes that in the future, options in franchise cricket will not be limited only to the role of head coach; the demand for former players will increase in positions such as mentor, cricket director, and high-performance director.

Rohit Sharma's connection with the Mumbai Indians was not limited to just being a player; under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful teams in the IPL. This is why Ashwin views his strategic understanding as a valuable asset for the franchise. Ashwin emphasized that a team like Mumbai Indians is unlikely to let a player with such vision and understanding of cricket leave easily.

Ashwin also shared his opinion on Virat Kohli's future. However, he is not sure if Kohli will immediately move into coaching after ending his playing career. R. Ashwin said: 'I don't think Virat is ready to become a coach immediately. Both have worked very hard. Perhaps Rohit can take up some position in Mumbai Indians. As for Virat, I am not sure. In my opinion, Virat might want to take a break for some time.'

Ashwin believes that both these great athletes, after long international careers and constant playing, might prefer to spend some time off the field.

www.aajtak.inAugust 9, 09:12

Questions about Rohit Sharma's plans for the World Cup and the silence of Ajit Agarkar and BCCI

Rohit Sharma managed to silence critics by scoring a century against England at Lord's. However, among fans and sports experts, the question remains open: will Rohit Sharma be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup?

Previously, in 2023, the Indian team under Rohit Sharma demonstrated strong results in its own one-day tournament format. Although Rohit's talent and form, who is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the one-day format, have never been questioned, speculations continue regarding his future, especially considering his age of 39 and fitness concerns.

In recent months, during all the ODI series conducted by India, the potential retirement of Rohit Sharma has been discussed more than his game performances.

Analyzing statistics from October 2025 to the present, it is evident that Rohit has shown outstanding play in his last 15 one-day matches. During this period, he has scored over 120 runs in two major innings and exceeded the 70-run mark in four instances. Recently, in the ODI match at Lord's against England, he played a classic innings of 138 runs, completely refuting the opinions of critics who advocated for his exclusion from the team.

Before the third match against England, several reports claimed that the selection committee had decided to move forward with the view of the 2027 World Cup. Nevertheless, Rohit refuted these reports by proving them false with his performance.

Against the backdrop of questions about Rohit's future, his former teammate Ajinkya Rahane advised the selection committee members. Rahane believes that the approach of evaluating a player series by series is completely wrong for a player of Rohit's caliber. He emphasized that the BCCI and the selection committee should have a direct conversation with Rohit. In Rahane's opinion, if they want Rohit to participate in the 2027 World Cup, they should give him confidence right now, as the player might perform at his best when his mind is calm and free.

www.aajtak.inAugust 7, 14:09

Appointment of 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as Deputy Captain of Eastern Region Team Sparks Controversy

A new controversy has arisen in Indian cricket ahead of the Dalip Trophy 2026 tournament. Questions are being raised regarding the decision to appoint 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region team. Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal called the selectors' decision hasty, noting that placing leadership responsibility on such a young player could create unnecessary pressure.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region for the Dalip Trophy, where Ishan Kishan will lead the team. Notably, this young batter from Bihar has played only eight first-class matches despite being given the role of deputy captain, while the team also features experienced players such as Abhimanyu Ishwar, who has 113 first-class matches under his belt.

His status was elevated following a recent visit to Zimbabwe, where Vaibhav Suryavanshi demonstrated outstanding play. He scored 151 runs in three T20 International matches and was named the Player of the Series. His explosive innings of 81 runs in the third and decisive match was a key factor in India's victory.

What did Priyank Panchal say?

Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal wrote on social media platform X that, in his opinion, the zonal selectors should have refrained from appointing Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region. He suggested that this could put excessive pressure on the young athlete and advised allowing him to fully master the nuances of red-ball cricket before entrusting him with such responsibilities.

Following Panchal's comment, discussions on social media intensified. Many former cricketers and fans believe that Vaibhav should first be given time to establish himself in domestic red-ball matches before taking on a leadership role.

How did the selectors defend the decision?

Meanwhile, the Eastern Region Selection Committee firmly defended its decision. Former cricketer Manish Vardhan, representing Jharkhand, told Cricinfo that this decision was not made solely considering the current tournament. He emphasized that they are looking beyond the present. The deputy captain gets the opportunity to work closely with the captain and study team management. They wanted Vaibhav to become more involved in the team's operations, as this would aid his development. He is considered an extremely talented player who is constantly maturing, and they believe this responsibility is part of his development process.

When will the Dalip Trophy begin?

The 33rd Dalip Trophy tournament will take place from August 23rd at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bangalore. In the initial stage, the Eastern Region team will face the North-Eastern Region, while the Western Region will play against the Northern Region. The winners of these two matches will proceed to the semi-finals against the Southern and Central Regions, respectively, on August 30th. The tournament final is scheduled for September 5th.