‘I was really angry’: Former Indian cricketer fuming over Rohit Sharma’s retirement saga

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta has slammed the speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s future during India’s ODI series against England, saying retirement rumors should never have gained momentum while the team was still competing.Controversy erupted after Rohit’s early dismissal in the second ODI in Cardiff, with reports claiming that the veteran opener will retire from ODI action after the end of the series at Lord’s. The report also indicated that the Indian team management was ready to let go of the former skipper due to his inconsistent form.

The rumors gained enough momentum for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to intervene, with secretary Devajit Saikia dismissing the claims as baseless.

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 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 wondered why such conversations arose in the first place.“I want to vent a little bit here because I was really angry when I was reading and listening to all of this.

It’s simple, as long as you keep scoring goals, you’ll keep playing. The only question comes when that environment is created. Honestly, I didn’t hear it from any selector, captain or coach. He said on his YouTube channel: “It is different if that was said outside the field, which I am not aware of.”After the conclusion of the series, Rohit also addressed these speculations in a video released by the BCCI, insisting that external noise will not distract him from his responsibilities.“What really matters is what I do on the field, and I try to contribute to the team’s success. That’s all my focus. Let the noise be there, if there’s no noise there’s no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside, that’s how I look at it,” he said.India’s next ODI assignment is a home series against West Indies in September.Dasgupta also urged selectors and team management to avoid creating unnecessary uncertainty around senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India gears up towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.According to the former wicketkeeper-batsman, selection should continue to be performance-based rather than treating established stars differently.“When you know performances are needed, this kind of conversation should not happen at all. Some people might get more chances, like Virat, Rohit and Shubman, they have been performing really well for years. It’s not a discussion about Rohit, it’s a discussion about everyone. When there are a lot of matches, it will happen, so leave them alone. Don’t treat them separately. Nothing has to change, just keep it simple,” he concluded.