'He should keep playing' - Rohit Sharma backed by former Pakistani cricketer amid retirement talks

Former Pakistan international Basit Ali has stated that Rohit Sharma's ODI retirement would also lead to Virat Kohli's eventual retirement from the format amid India's ODI series in England. 

Rohit's retirement has been in the news of late, with the BCCI finally putting the rumours to bed by clarifying he remains in the plans for the ODI team with regard to the 2027 World Cup. Basit has opined that with the way Rohit and Virat Kohli were grouped in their departures from the Test side, the same could take place in the 50-over side.

“If he continues to perform, he should keep playing. Right now, if you want to judge him solely on the basis of his performances in the two matches in England or on Gautam Gambhir’s likes and dislikes, then you should also keep Virat Kohli in mind,” Basit said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Basit believes that the decision could be counter-productive due to Kohli still having a lot to offer.

“If today it is Rohit’s turn, then next time it could be Virat’s. Given the way Virat retired from Test cricket, there is a possibility that both of them could announce their retirements at Lord’s. If too much pressure is applied, I feel such a decision could end up being made, which would be a huge mistake, because the cricketing world still wants to watch Virat play," he added.

Rohit has been having a torrid time with the bat throughout the series, scoring just 37 runs in three innings. He scored 11 in the first game and followed it up with a 47-ball 27 in the second game. He has scored 180 runs in five innings at an average of 36, which includes a solitary half-century score of 79.

Kohli has had contrasting fortunes in his last five games, scoring 310 runs in five innings at an average of 62. He has scored two half-centuries and a century, which included a well-made 66-ball 65 in the second ODI in Cardiff.