Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup have already started, even though the tournament is still more than a year away. While the team management continues to build towards the marquee event, the Rohit Sharma question is still there, that is, whether he will be part of India's plans when the World Cup arrives or not.According to sources from Dainik Jagran with close ties to BCCI selectors, the feeling within sections of the selection committee has become increasingly negative towards Rohit Sharma's chances of making the 2027 World Cup squad. As per the report, there is reportedly a growing belief among some selectors that India cannot continue waiting for the former captain's "last match" to arrive.BCCI Selectors Negative On Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup CaseThe conversation surrounding Rohit's future has now moved beyond ordinary selection speculation.According to the conversation cited by Dainik Jagran, one person with knowledge of the selection thinking was particularly clear about Rohit's World Cup prospects, saying that it was "500% certain" that the veteran would not feature in the World Cup 2027.The bigger uncertainty, however, is not the World Cup itself but how long Rohit will continue playing ODI cricket. The selector reportedly pointed towards the number of series remaining before the 2027 World Cup and questioned whether India should continue treating every upcoming series as potentially Rohit's final appearance.Interestingly, the same discussion also revealed that Rohit's supposed final series has changed several times. The Afghanistan series was once considered a possible ending. Then England became another potential farewell point. But each time, Rohit remained in the picture.Also Read- Sri Lanka To Ring Rohit Sharma's Nemesis And Surprising Weapon For India TestsThat has apparently created frustration within sections of the selection setup. One selector reportedly questioned the logic of continuously waiting for Rohit's "last match", asking why the team should keep depending on the possibility of a final game instead of planning properly for the World Cup.The selector also reportedly pointed towards Rohit Sharma's performances in Australia and Afghanistan as examples of why the debate cannot simply be settled through one poor series.That argument creates the central dilemma for the selectors. Rohit may still produce match-winning performances, but India also has to decide whether those performances are enough to justify carrying a 39-year-old opener into a tournament where the team wants to build for the future.Will Rohit Be A Burden In World Cup 2027?Calling Rohit a burden would be harsh considering what he has achieved in ODI cricket, particularly in World Cups. His record in global tournaments remains one of the strongest arguments in his favour. Across the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups, Rohit scored 1,575 runs in 28 innings at an average of 60.57 and a strike rate of 105.49. He also registered seven centuries and six fifties during that period.His 2023 World Cup campaign alone produced 597 runs from 11 innings at an average of 54.27 and a remarkable strike rate of 125.94. So, the concern is not about whether Rohit knows how to perform on the biggest stage.It is about whether the selectors believe the version of Rohit Sharma required in 2027 will still be available. His ODI numbers over the last three years remain respectable. From 2023 to 2026, he has scored 2,058 runs in 43 innings at an average of 50.19, including four centuries and 14 fifties. His strike rate during this period has also remained above 111.However, his 2026 numbers tell a slightly different story. Rohit has scored 379 runs from nine innings at an average of 42.11, with one century and one fifty.That decline may not be dramatic enough to immediately end his career, but it gives the selectors a reason to consider a transition. At the same time, Rohit's numbers against some of India's major opponents remain encouraging. Since 2023, he has averaged 59.66 against Australia and 54.85 against England. Against Afghanistan, his average stands at 68.50. This is precisely why the debate is complicated.There is enough evidence to suggest Rohit can still win matches for India. But there is also enough uncertainty for the selectors to ask whether they should build their 2027 World Cup plans around him.Will Rohit Sharma Retire Before 2027 World Cup?The biggest twist in the Rohit saga could come before the 2027 World Cup squad is even selected. Rohit has shown that he still wants to compete for his place. His recent performances have also strengthened his argument that he should not simply be written off because of his age.But if the selectors decide to leave him out of India's upcoming ODI assignments, the situation could change quickly.There is a possibility that Rohit could decide to rest his boots before the World Cup rather than continue fighting for a place that the selectors are unwilling to give him. That would be a very different ending from the one Indian cricket fans might have imagined.Rohit Sharma has already stepped away from Test and T20I cricket and continues to remain available in the 50-over format. If ODI cricket also starts moving away from him, the decision could eventually become his rather than the selectors'.Also Read- From Sediqullah Atal To Sachin Tendulkar: Every Cricketer Who Smashed Massive Feats On Their Birthdays
