Questioning Rohit Sharma's place as India's ODI opener, former BCCI secretary and selector Sanjay Jagdale has thrown his weight behind Yashasvi Jaiswal as the future.
"Rohit is a great white-ball player, but he doesn't have much of a future. He shouldn't be playing the 2027 World Cup," Jagdale told myKhel.
Rohit, currently dealing with a recurring hamstring injury that forced him to miss Mumbai Indians' last game, is not a long-term option either. "I won't put Rohit in Virat Kohli's bracket. And Yashasvi Jaiswal isn't being treated well. He is your future, not Rohit. Jaiswal is also the next all-format player for India after Virat," Jagdale added.
The former Indian manager emphasised the need to invest in youth. "Jaiswal has scored runs in Australia
and England; therefore, he doesn't need to prove his worth again and again. He is also doing well in the IPL," Jagdale said, while questioning what is stopping the selectors from backing Jaiswal as a regular opener alongside Shubman Gill for the 50-over World Cup.
Meanwhile, Rohit is set to miss a couple of matches for his franchise Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2026. The right-handed batter from Mumbai has played four games this season, scoring 137 runs, with a highest of 78 coming against Kolkata Knight Riders in their tournament opener. His stop-start campaign and recurring fitness concerns only add further weight to the debate surrounding his long-term role in India's ODI setup.
The bigger question now is whether the selectors will take note of Jagdale's remarks. At least India head coach Gautam Gambhir is likely to weigh these factors closely while shaping the team's roadmap. Known for prioritising form and fitness over reputation, Gambhir's approach could prove decisive in determining whether India transitions early or continues to rely on experience.
With the 2027 World Cup cycle already underway, the Rohit-Jaiswal debate is no longer hypothetical-it reflects a larger shift Indian cricket may soon have to confront.
