Chetan Sharma backs Rohit Sharma to continue playing ODIs despite age debate

Former selector throws weight behind 39-year-old skipper

MUMBAI: As speculation over Rohit Sharma's international future refuses to die down, former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has firmly backed the 39-year-old to continue wearing India's ODI jersey, declaring that “age is just a number” for the country's batting icons.

Agarkar exit reignites ODI future debate

The spotlight has once again turned on the former India captain with the departure of current chief selector Ajit Agarkar — which becomes official after October 4, the last date of his tenure. It is widely believed that Agarkar's fallout with the BCCI over Rohit's future could be the catalyst in the former India and Mumbai pacer not seeking an extension of his tenure.

On September 3, after a review meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia once again sought to quash the uncertainty around Rohit's ODI future.

“Kohinoors of Indian cricket”

Amid the raging debate, Sharma — the first bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cup history (against New Zealand at Nagpur in 1987) — gave a ringing endorsement of the stalwarts.

“I can understand that people are saying a hundred things. I have been a cricketer too, so I respect and love them as cricketers. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the 'Kohinoors' of Indian cricket. Age is just a number. If they are good, then why not (can they continue). I myself was a selector. Rohit recently scored a century (138 against England at Lord's in third ODI on July 19). Virat, every game he gets one. Then what is the problem? We want players who can win games for us, and they both are capable of doing it,” Sharma told TOI.

Sharma, who played 23 Tests and 65 ODIs from 1984-94 picking up 128 wickets, confessed he was a big fan of the superstar batters. “I love watching them when they come and bat for India and they win trophies for us. Rohit won us a trophy after so many years (when he captained India to their second T20 World Cup triumph, and first in 17 years). We should be grateful. We should not listen to other people,” he stressed at an event in Mumbai.

On the 2027 World Cup question

Asked specifically if he wished Rohit and Kohli to play in the ODI World Cup next year, Sharma replied: “If they are fit, they are getting the runs, then why not? I am asking this question to everyone.”

On how he would have handled the situation as chief selector — a role he held from December 2020 to February 2023 — Sharma said: “I won't go into that. When I was the chief selector, we made Rohit the captain. We trusted him, that's why we made him the captain. Virat was always an asset for Indian cricket. As I said, if they are fit, they are getting runs for India, then we should be happy.”

Praise for domestic cricket mandate

Sharma also welcomed the BCCI's decision to make it mandatory for all India players to feature in domestic cricket when fit and available. “When I was the India chief selector, my thinking was that if you are doing well in domestic cricket, you should be given a chance. The BCCI spends so much money and effort to organise domestic cricket. We have to respect domestic cricket. Recently, I saw an article that the BCCI told everyone about domestic cricket. So, my dream has come true, and I am really thankful to the BCCI for this. You must play in the Ranji Trophy or first-class cricket if you are fit,” he felt.

Asian Games hopes

Sharma backed both the India women's and men's teams to clinch gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Indian women's team will play Sri Lanka in the gold medal clash on Tuesday, while Shreyas Iyer's side launch their campaign in the quarterfinals on September 28.