Rohit Sharma sends strong message ahead of ODI series against Australia, says ‘I am…’ News24 –

India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma has been working hard to remain fit for the upcoming ODI series against Australia which is starting from October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The 38-year old batter will be making an international comeback after almost eight months after stepping away from the Test format.

A recent report by Dainik Jagran suggested that the upcoming series could be the final of his career before he hangs his boots completely. The report also hinted that the two veterans – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are serious about playing the ODI World Cup in 2027, which will be held at Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Having come agonizingly close to winning the 2023 World Cup after falling short in the final against Australia, Rohit seems set to make one last go before likely hanging up his gloves for international cricket. But his fate does not lie entirely within himself. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir will have considerable say in the selection processes going forward.

Meanwhile, Rohit is putting his energy into what he can do. He has returned to hardcore training in Mumbai with his old buddy and former Team India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. On Thursday, Rohit dropped a hint on the practice of the preparations by posting an Instagram video from a net session.

Rohit Sharma shared a video from his training session on Instagram where he mentioned: “I am here again. It feels really good.” he further captioned the reel and said “that felt good.”

There is also curiosity building regarding whether Rohit will get some match practice by participating in the India A v Australia A ODI series that begins on September 30 in Kanpur. As of now, the Men’s Senior Selection Committee has not announced the India A team, and that has only added to speculation regarding appearances by both Rohit and Kohli.

Both the stalwarts had already declared their retirement from Test cricket earlier this year, right before the squad announcement for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. A string of poor performances against New Zealand and Australia had sent them packing from the longest form.

Interestingly, despite their Test and T20I retirements both having stepped away from T20s after India’s 2024 World Cup campaign in Barbados Rohit and Kohli played pivotal roles in India’s recent Champions Trophy 2025 victory, proving they still have plenty to offer in ODIs.