Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach confirms Hitman’s retirement date after IND vs AUS ODIs

Rohit Sharma lost eight kilos of weight before the India vs Australia ODI series.

Rohit Sharma has been the face of India’s white-ball batting for years, and his latest knock in Sydney reminded everyone why. As he brought up his century against Australia, the crowd rose knowing they were witnessing something special. It wasn’t just another Rohit Sharma innings, it felt like the beginning of the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket.

Rohit Sharma dominates Australia once again

In his final appearance in Australia, the man made sure it was unforgettable. Rohit Sharma, after months away from ODI cricket, returned like he never left. He scored 73 in Adelaide and an unbeaten 121 in Sydney, guiding India to a nine-wicket win and sealing the Player of the Series award with 202 runs.

At 38, he looked leaner, hungrier, and far more purposeful, much like like a man chasing one last summit. Against an Australian attack that threw everything at him, Rohit’s timing and shot selection were immaculate. His 168-run unbroken stand with Virat Kohli felt like a throwback to India’s golden white-ball days, with fans soaking in every stroke of nostalgia. The way Rohit survived Hazlewood’s deadly spell in Adelaide and the casual way he negotiated Adam Zampa – it looked as if the Rohit of 2015 is here.

Coach Dinesh Lad reveals Rohit’s retirement plan

After the game, Rohit’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad lifted the curtain on what’s next for the Indian captain. Speaking to ANI, Lad confirmed that the ‘Hitman’ has already decided his finish line and it is the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“The way Rohit batted today and how he contributed to India’s win — it felt great to watch today’s match. He will play the 2027 ODI World Cup and retire after that,” Lad revealed.

He also defended Virat Kohli, who hit a resilient 74* after two ducks earlier in the series. “He is someone who can thrive anytime and anywhere. The way he played today, it feels good. Sachin had said in a function way back that Rohit and Virat would be the players who would break his records. Both getting closer to his records feels really good,” Lad said, recalling Sachin Tendulkar’s old prophecy that both Rohit and Virat would break his records.