World Cup final lost, IPL captaincy gone, India career uncertain: How is Rohit Sharma feeling right now?

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Rohit Sharma will no longer be a captain in the IPL. The typing fingers don’t feel normal writing this small and simple sentence. Speaking it would give an instant feeling of numbness.

The 36-year-old India captain is already living with a broken dream of not being able to win an ODI World Cup. At the time when the 2027 World Cup would be taking place in South Africa, Rohit Sharma would be 40 and most probably retired from all formats of the game - the IPL cricket including.

The mind just wonders how is Rohit Sharma feeling in his heart? Was he ready to step down from captaincy? Will he like playing under Hardik Pandya - who was brought back just a few weeks ago from Gujarat Titans.

From what we have known about the 'Hitman’ through his press conferences, interviews and most importantly his on-field leadership, he would take the decision from the Mumbai Indians on his chin. He would accept the decision, smile and move on.

He is good at going away from all the limelight. Remember him walking through the tunnel and into the Narendra Modi Stadium dressing room after the World Cup 2023 defeat? The ever happy captain isolated himself, to press the reset button. The process might be different this time but he will again have to press the reset button.

Also, from what we know about the culture at Mumbai Indians, the type of humans Ambanis (owners) are, they would have most probably kept Rohit in the loop throughout, even when getting back his successor who left for GT in 2022 with captaincy ambitions.

Mumbai Indians is Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma is Mumbai Indians. 10 years of captaincy, 5 IPL titles, one Champions Trophy triumph, and that trademark Rohit Sharma’e running celebration with his fingers pointed straight at glory have been etched in the memories of an entire generation.

The Mumbaiya swagger of Rohit Sharma makes the transition look easy, but deep down the change would be massive for him. The age factor would also play its role. The mid-life crisis in the life of a cricketer is when he is on the less favoured side of his 30s.

Rohit Sharma has not played a T20I match since India’s exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup. Reports recently suggested that he would lead India in the T20 World Cup, but the latest development casts a shadow. India might also aim for a change in role in the ODIs, a new leader needs to be nurtured there as well. Test matches are demanding, and the next World Test Championship final will be held in 2025. Will Rohit continue for so long there?

Rohit Sharma has earned the status of legend. He has already achieved what a handful have achieved in their careers. Many even believe that he is the greatest batter ever produced by India.

But he finds himself standing at a crossroad, may be full of emotion, full of memories (good and not so good), the outgoing Mumbai Indians may be checking all directions for one final motivation for one last dance.