Rohit Sharma, 39, is still chasing a spot in the 2027 ODI World Cup despite a career‑threatening hip injury back in 2017— which left him with two surgeries on the hamstring and hip flexor.
Soham Desai, the former India strength‑and‑conditioning coach, slammed the chatter that Rohit is lazy, pointing out that the batter has been putting in at least two strength sessions a week to keep that weak hip from exploding. — If he misses even one session, Desai warns, he becomes a ticking bomb.
James Pamment, who coached the Mumbai Indians to back‑to‑back IPL titles, backs both Rohit and Virat Kohli for the World Cup, saying they have earned the right to decide whether to retire. He praised Kohli as “the ultimate professional.”
India’s five‑match ODI tour of New Zealand, kicking off on 4 November, will test the veterans. The last time India won a series in New Zealand was in 2018‑19.
If Rohit can keep his hip in check, he could be a match‑winner in the South African tri‑nation tournament. The next step: the New Zealand series will decide who makes the final World Cup squad.