‘I was really angry’: Former India cricketer fuming over Rohit Sharma’s retirement saga Cricket News

Rohit Sharma of India (ANI Photo)

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta criticizes speculation surrounding the issue Rohit SharmaDuring India’s ODI series against England, he said retirement rumors should not be of concern while the team is still playing.The controversy erupted after Rohit was dismissed early in the second ODI in Cardiff, with reports suggesting that the veteran opener will retire from ODIs after the series final at Lord’s. Reports also suggest that the Indian team management is ready to sack the former captain due to his inconsistent form. The rumors gathered enough momentum to prompt the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to intervene, with secretary Devagit Saikia refuting the claims as baseless.

Rohit responded in the best possible way on the field. In the third ODI in the opener at Lord’s, India scored 138 runs off 110 balls, but eventually India fell behind by 27 runs while chasing 388 runs and lost the three-match series 2-1.Looking back on the episode, Dasgupta admitted that he was frustrated with the discussions that dominated the series and questioned why such conversations came up in the first place.“I want to vent my anger here because when I read and hear all this, I get really angry. Quite simply, as long as you keep scoring runs, you keep playing. The only question is when the environment is created. To be honest, I haven’t heard that from any selector, captain or coach. If this was said off the field, that’s another story, I don’t know,” he said on his YouTube channel.Rohit also responded to the speculation in a video released by BCCI after the series, insisting that outside noise would not distract him from his responsibility.“What’s really important is what I do on the field, trying to contribute to the team’s success. That’s where all my focus is. Let the noise be there, if there’s no noise there’s no fun. My job is on the inside, their job is on the outside, that’s how I look at it,” he said.India’s next ODI assignment is the home series against West Indies in September.Dasgupta also urged the selectors and team management to avoid causing unnecessary uncertainty to senior players like Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli India is gearing up for the 2027 ODI World Cup.According to the former goalkeeper, selection should continue to be based on performance rather than discriminating against established stars.“When you know performances are required, then this type of talk should not happen at all. Some people may get more opportunities like Virat, Rohit, Shubman, who have performed well over the years. This is not a debate about Rohit, it is a debate about everyone. When there are so many games, it will happen, so just leave them alone. Don’t treat them separately. Nothing needs to be changed, just keep it simple,” he concluded.