Rohit Sharma must have goal in mind to play in ODI World Cup 2027: Ricky Ponting

Rohit Sharma is aiming to head the Indian squad in the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in October and November in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, according to former Australia great Ricky Ponting.

The T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025 are the two consecutive ICC championships that Rohit has guided India to. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday, March 9, the Mumbai batsman crushed a game-winning half-century against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final.

According to Ponting, Rohit’s appropriate response to the naysayers who are constantly speculating about his retirement was the knock.

“When you reach that stage of your career, everyone is anticipating your retirement. I don’t know why, but I believe he was attempting to put an end to those enquiries by saying, “No, I’m still playing well enough,” when you can still play as well as he has (in the Champions Trophy final). This team is a lot of fun to play on. Ponting stated, “I love leading this team,” in an interview with the most recent ICC Review.

“And I think, the fact that he said that, to me, it means that he must have that goal in mind of playing in the next (50-over) World Cup (in 2027),” he stated.

When he performs as he did in the Champions Trophy final, you wouldn’t say his career is over: Ricky Ponting

Additionally, Ricky Ponting believes Rohit Sharma may be still haunted by his loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and wants to win the trophy again, which is missing from his illustrious cabinet. According to the former Australian captain, Rohit’s 76-run performance in the Champions Trophy final demonstrated that he still has a lot of cricket left in him.

“I believe the issue that’s probably on the back of his mind is the fact that he was captain when they (India) lost the last one. Give it one more chance to try to win the Champions Trophy, the ODI World Cup, and the T20 World Cup. Ponting continued, “You wouldn’t say that his time is up just yet when you see him play like he did in the Champions Trophy final.”