Veteran opener Rohit Sharma has confirmed his desire to play in the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, putting an end to intense speculation about his immediate future in the 50-over format.
Speaking to JioStar ahead of India's three-match ODI series against the West Indies, Rohit emphasized that as long as a player is active, there is always a goal to pursue. The 39-year-old made it clear that he still has "unfinished business" in ODI cricket after previously stepping away from Test and T20I formats.
"The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished. As long as you're playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I'm looking forward to the World Cup, looking at what lies ahead for me," Rohit said.
"When the World Cup is played, when we play an ICC tournament, it has its own unique challenge, because you face different opponents, you play at different venues. So, you have to prepare differently, think in a different way and that is the challenge," he added.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will run from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. For Rohit, it represents a chance to fill the only major gap remaining in his international trophy cabinet.
While he captained India to victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, the heartbreak of losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad remains a core driver for his continuation in the format.
As the India team kicks off its long-term build-up for 2027, Rohit Sharma enters the cycle backed by an extraordinary statistical legacy in the ODI format, amassing 11,895 runs from 288 matches at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 93 with 34 centuries and 62 fifties.
To prepare for the global tournament, the Men in Blue have lined up an extensive ODI calendar starting immediately with the home series against the West Indies. The three ODIs will be played in Thiruvananthapuram (September 27), Guwahati (September 30), and New Chandigarh (October 3).
Subsequently, India will travel to New Zealand for five ODIs in November, followed by three home ODIs each against Sri Lanka (December 2026) and Zimbabwe (January 2027). The Shubman Gill-led side will also take the field to defend their 50-over Asia Cup crown before the World Cup next year.
(With ANI Inputs)
