India’s Rohit Sharma (ANI Photo)

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta has criticised the speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma‘s future during India’s ODI series against England, saying the retirement rumours should never have gained traction while the team was still competing.The debate erupted after Rohit’s early dismissal in the second ODI at Cardiff, with reports claiming the veteran opener would retire from ODIs after the series finale at Lord’s. The report also suggested that the Indian team management was prepared to move on from the former captain because of his inconsistent form. The rumours gathered enough momentum for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to step in, with secretary Devajit Saikia dismissing the claims as baseless.

Rohit responded in the best possible manner on the field. The opener smashed 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI at Lord’s, although India eventually fell 27 runs short while chasing 388 and lost the three-match series 2-1.Reflecting on the episode, Dasgupta admitted he was frustrated by the discussions that dominated the series and questioned why such conversations had surfaced in the first place.“I want to vent my anger a bit here because I was really angry when I was reading and listening to all of this. It is simple that as long as you keep scoring runs, you will keep playing. The only question comes in when that environment is created. Honestly, I have not heard it from any selector, captain, or the coach. It is a different matter if it was said off the field, which I am not privy to,” he said on his YouTube channel.Following the conclusion of the series, Rohit also addressed the speculation in a video released by the BCCI, insisting that outside noise would not distract him from his responsibilities.“What really matters is what I do on the field, try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s where all my focus is. Let the noise be there, if there is no noise there is no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside, that’s how I look at it,” he said.India’s next ODI assignment is a home series against the West Indies in September.Dasgupta also urged the selectors and team management to avoid creating unnecessary uncertainty around senior players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.According to the former wicketkeeper, selection should continue to be based on performances rather than treating established stars differently.“When you know that performances are needed, then these type of talks should not happen at all. Some people might get more chances, like Virat, Rohit, Shubman, they have been doing really well for years. It is not a debate about Rohit, it is a debate about everyone. When there are so many matches, it will happen, so just leave them alone. Don’t treat them separately. Nothing has to change, just keep it simple,” he concluded.