Rohit Sharma‘s parents, Gurunath Sharma and Purnima Sharma, have allegedly arrived in London ahead of the third One-Day International against England and India at Lord’s on Sunday, July 19.
Multiple reports have stated that the game on Sunday will be Rohit’s final international encounter with the Indian side, as the BCCI’s top selection committee intends not to select him in the format after the England tour, keeping in view the future chances of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
As a result, the third ODI is poised to be Rohit Sharma final encounter for the Indian side, prompting his parents to travel to London to witness the special occasion, Crex reports. According to sources, Rohit was well aware of the developments regarding his future in international cricket and had planned for his family to attend the farewell match. This development is emotionally significant given the experienced batter’s famous career spanning over two decades.
The selectors, together with head coach Gautam Gambhir, have agreed it is time to move ahead and offer younger players, like Yashasvi Jaiswal, more playing time in the 50-over format.
Rohit Sharma had indicated a desire to continue playing ODI cricket and had worked hard on his fitness during the off-season to extend his playing career. Unfortunately, he was disappointed following his talk with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee during the ongoing tour. It should be noted that Rohit Sharma’s retirement has not been officially confirmed by either him or the BCCI.
How did Rohit Sharma recent performance influence the BCCI’s decision?
After hitting 11 in the opening at Edgbaston, the 39-year-old made 26 off 47 balls in Cardiff before getting removed. In his last eight ODI innings, he has scored 241 runs at an average of 30.1, with only one half-century. The drop in form appears to have had a substantial impact on the selectors’ decisions about the squad’s future trajectory for the 2027 World Cup.
What is the current status of the England series?
India won the first ODI at Edgbaston by six wickets, while England won the second ODI at Cardiff by four wickets, tying the three-match series at one. The third ODI at Lord’s on July 19 will be a decider for both teams, and if Rohit Sharma plays, it will be much more significant.
Rohit Sharma has previously announced his retirement from two international forms. He retired from T20 Internationals on June 29, 2024, shortly after captaining India to victory in the T20 World Cup, and from Test cricket on May 7, 2025, prior to India’s tour of England. An ODI exit would conclude his international career in all three formats.
The Mumbai batsman’s status will be undetermined until after Sunday’s match at cricket’s most renowned venue. Whatever the conclusion, if the reports are correct, this match promises to be a watershed event in his great international career.
