Very Unlikely Rohit Sharma Will Be There For 2027 World Cup: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels it's "very unlikely" that Rohit Sharma would be around till the 2027 Cricket World Cup, saying that the ongoing Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai could be the last ICC tournament for the stylish opening batter. Rohit struggled for runs during the three-Test series against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He returned to form in style by smashing a century in the second ODI against England at Cuttack earlier this month, giving India hope as they prepared for the Champions Trophy.

But Rohit, who guided India to its second T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean last year, is 37-years-old and with the 50-over World Cup -- to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027 -- more than two years away, Manjrekar feels the Champions Trophy could be the Mumbai cricketer's last major tournament.

"I have a feeling (that) if he has decided, I mean can Rohit Sharma be there for the 2027 Cricket World Cup? I don't think so, very unlikely. So, then, this could be, what you are suggesting, could be the final tournament," said Manjrekar on ESPNcricinfo's Matchday programme.

Manjrekar added that Rohit would like to make a statement at the ongoing edition of the Champions Trophy, given that he is a world-class batter.

"I'm expecting Rohit Sharma to go out there and he should be actually liberated not so much by this being his sort of swansong or whatever, just by the fact that so much of quality batting to come (from him)," added Manjrekar.

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan here on Sunday with Rohit expected to give his side a flying start.

Rohit's start to the marquee tournament has been noteworthy with the skipper scoring 41 in the opening match