India back Rohit amid retirement speculation

LONDON: India team management has thrown its weight behind struggling opener Rohit Sharma amid speculation back home that Sunday’s third one-day international against England at Lord’s could be his last.

The 39-year-old managed a laboured 26 off 47 balls on Thursday as England won the second match in Cardiff to level the three-match series.

Rohit has now gone 11 ODIs without a hundred and his poor run of form raises questions about his place for next year’s World Cup, which South Africa will host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The Indian Express newspaper said the 39-year-old former India captain has been informed that the selectors have decided to “move on”.

Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, however, said white-ball stalwart Rohit was “too good” a player to feel any pressure.

“Yes, he didn’t get runs, but I don’t think that makes any difference,” Kotak told reporters after Thursday’s loss, dismissing suggestions that Rohit was struggling. “On a particular day, many batters don’t get the momentum they are looking for, and that can happen. You might see a completely different innings from Rohit Sharma at Lord’s.”

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“Rohit probably didn’t get balls in his areas and didn’t get going. That’s what I felt. So I wouldn’t say he was struggling.”

Former India captain Rohit is the only batter to have scored three 200-plus scores in ODIs, including a 264 against Sri Lanka, which remains the highest score by a batter in this format. Rohit has already quit test cricket and T20 Internationals.