Selectors wanted Rohit out of 2027 World Cup plans, felt ‘betrayed’ by BCCI backing: Report

Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket has once again come under the spotlight, with a report claiming that recent retirement speculation exposed differences between India’s selectors and the BCCI leadership.

According to Dainik Jagran, the Indian team management does not view Rohit as part of its plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The report claims a senior selector had discussed the matter with a top BCCI official and that Rohit had also been informed of the team’s long-term thinking.

Speculation intensified after Rohit’s scores of 11 and 26 in the opening two ODIs against England, with reports suggesting the series finale at Lord’s would be his farewell match.

However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia publicly dismissed the rumours two days before the game, stating that Rohit would continue to play as long as he remained in India’s plans.

Rohit responded emphatically by scoring 138 at Lord’s, becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at the iconic venue and the oldest Indian to register an international hundred. The innings was widely seen as a statement that he remains determined to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The report further claims that some selectors were unhappy with the BCCI’s public backing of Rohit, believing the board’s stance shifted amid growing social media speculation, while the team management continued to question whether India could win the 2027 World Cup with him in the side.

The reported disagreement has also fuelled uncertainty over chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s future. According to the report, the BCCI is considering Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman as a potential successor, with a decision expected at the board’s Annual General Meeting in September. Agarkar’s position could reportedly depend on India’s performance in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.