Rohit slammed 41 off 36 balls in India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.
Rohit was under the scanner for his prolonged lean patch until recently. He regained his form with a match-winning century (119) in the second ODI against England at Cuttack earlier this month.
Rohit slammed 41 off 36 balls in India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 20. His quickfire knock paved the way for India’s six-wicket victory.
“I have a feeling (that) if he has decided, I mean can Rohit Sharma be there for the 2027 Cricket World Cup? I don’t think so, very unlikely. So, then, this could be, what you are suggesting, could be the final tournament,” said Manjrekar on ESPNcricinfo’s Matchday programme.
Manjrekar expects Rohit to make a statement in the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy. “I’m expecting Rohit Sharma to go out there and he should be actually liberated not so much by this being his sort of swansong or whatever, just by the fact that so much of quality batting to come (from him),” he added.
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday (February 23), with Rohit Sharma likely to give his side a strong start.
Manjrekar lauded the Indian captain’s selfless approach, saying: “2023 World Cup (in India) Rohit Sharma’s popularity soared. What they loved about Rohit Sharma is that they saw the captain was selfless, went out there… (he) could have got a hundred but (instead) gave a great flying start to the team and made things easier for the players coming after him.”
Legendary spinner Anil Kumble said Rohit won’t hold back his stroke-play in the ongoing tournament as he was an out-and-out attacking batter.
“He’ll look to attack those first 10 overs and get the team off to a great start. I don’t think he’s going to hold back. If there is a ball to be hit even after the 11th or 15th over when the field is out there, he has the capability to go the in-field fielders.
“He is one of those batters who has the maximum number of sixes in international cricket and I don’t think he is thinking that ’look I need to be liberated for me to go and express myself'.
“He’s the leader of this team and I’m sure he’ll look to do that from ball one, irrespective of whether his form is in or not… that’s the way he bats in white-ball cricket,” Kumble stated.