Former Indian wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta criticized the surrounding speculation Rohit SharmaIndia’s future during India’s ODI series against England, saying retirement rumors should never have gained traction while the team was still in contention.The debate raged after Rohit’s early dismissal in the second ODI at Cardiff, with reports saying the veteran opener will retire from ODIs after the series finale at Lord’s. The report also suggested that the Indian team management was ready to move on from the former captain due to his inconsistent form. The rumors gathered enough momentum for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to intervene, with secretary Devajit Saikia dismissing the claims as baseless.
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Rohit responded in the best possible way on the field. The opener smashed 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI at Lord’s, although India eventually fell short by 27 runs while chasing 388 and lost the three-match series 2-1.Reflecting on the episode, Dasgupta admitted that he was frustrated by the discussions that dominated the series and questioned why such conversations had surfaced in the first place.“I want to explain my anger a little here, because I was really angry when I was reading and listening to all this. It is simple that, as long as you keep scoring runs, you will continue to play. The only question comes when that environment is created. Honestly, I have not heard it from any selector, captain, or the coach. It is a different matter if it was said outside of his channel on YouTube “, I am not told about his private channel.After the conclusion of the series, Rohit also addressed the speculation in a video released by the BCCI, insisting that the outside noise did not distract him from his responsibilities.“What really matters is what I do in the field, I try and contribute to the success of the team. This is where all my focus is. Let the noise be there, if there is no noise there is no fun. My work is inside, his work is outside, that’s how you see me,” he said.India’s next ODI assignment is a home series against the West Indies in September.Dasgupta also urged the selectors and team management to avoid creating unnecessary uncertainty around senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India builds towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.According to the former wicketkeeper, selection should continue to be based on performances rather than treating established stars differently.“When you know that the performances are necessary, then this kind of discussions should not happen at all. Some may have more chances, like Virat, Rohit, Shubman, they have done really well for years. It is not a debate about Rohit, it is a debate about everyone. When there are so many matches, it will happen, so leave it alone. It is not just dealt with alone, it is not just concluded alone.