Matthew Hayden urges Rohit Sharma to decide his fate ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup

As talk increases regarding Rohit Sharma's potential participation in the 2027 World Cup, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden emphasised that the decision ultimately hinges on the Indian batter's remaining hunger, energy, and enthusiasm for the demands of the game.

With Rohit having already stepped away from both Test and T20 international formats, Hayden noted that the former Indian captain alone can determine his timeline, given the high physical and mental commitments required for both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international fixtures.

Focusing exclusively on 50-over cricket, the 39-year-old impressed with a strong individual showing during India's tour of England in July, despite the visitors suffering a 2-1 defeat in the three-match ODI series.

"Look, when you get to the age Rohit is at, you start facing those questions. Before him, it was Virat, and before that, it was Gautam Gambhir. It just goes on and on. You can't play this beautiful game forever. When you reach that stage of your career, you're inevitably asked whether it will be the IPL or international cricket that goes first. Rohit has already retired from Test cricket, so ultimately, only he can know whether he still fights a lion to keep charging through what is an incredibly demanding schedule. You need a young man's energy to compete at the very highest level. So, in the end, it will be entirely his call," Hayden told ANI.

Rohit Sharma impressed with the bat in England

Speculation intensified ahead of the third ODI at Lord's that the series decider might mark Rohit Sharma's final appearance in Indian colours. However, Rohit answered questions surrounding his future with a brilliant counter-attacking century, enhancing his chances of featuring at the ODI World Cup 2027.

Chasing a daunting target of 388, Rohit produced a masterful 138 off 110 balls, featuring 17 boundaries and five sixes. Though India ultimately fell short by 27 runs, his performance alongside long-time teammate Virat Kohli, who contributed a fluent 74 off 60 balls, showcased his match-winning ability.

With 11,895 runs across 288 ODIs at an average of 48.95 and a strike rate of 93.04, including 34 centuries and a career-best 264, Rohit remains one of cricket's all-time elite white-ball batters. He sits seventh on the global all-time run-scoring list and ranks as India's third-highest run-getter in the 50-over format, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs) and Virat Kohli (14,941 runs).

(With inputs from ANI)