Rohit Sharma's average this year has sunk to a brutal 30.12 across eight One-Day International matches, managing only a single half-century. Seriously, one fifty in eight games? That's not the Rohit Sharma we know! And with retirement buzz swirling louder than ever ahead of Sunday's series decider against England at Lord's, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak just stepped up to bat for his veteran opener, totally dismissing the talk.
Cardiff Catastrophe: A Look at Rohit's Rough Patch
You saw it in the second match at Cardiff, right? England snagged that game by four wickets, leveling the three-game series, and Rohit's struggles were front and center. He crawled to a measly 10 off 18 balls inside the Powerplay, while the rest of the squad was *flying*, putting up 61 for one in that same period. Nine dot balls in a row, man! His innings finally ended on a scratchy 26 off 47 deliveries when he tried a sweep off Will Jacks and lost his wicket. It was tough to watch, especially with his form already a concern coming into this series. Everyone's whispering about the selectors possibly easing him out as India starts looking towards the 2027 World Cup, and performances like that aren't exactly helping.Kotak's Unwavering Defense: "Two Matches Don't Make a Difference"
But here’s the wild part: Sitanshu Kotak is not having any of it. When reporters grilled him post-match about Rohit's position being under the microscope after the Lord's finale, Kotak laid it all out. "I don't think a player as big as Rohit can feel the pressure," he stated. "He's too good a player to feel that. Yes he hasn't scored in two games. I don't think that makes any difference." He even said it *looked* like Rohit was going to get a good innings, even though he didn't. Kotak flat-out rejected any talk of a rough patch, saying "I wouldn't use the word struggling." He blamed uneven pitch bounce making Rohit's usual confident shots tricky and claimed Rohit just wasn't getting "balls in his slot," unlike Shubman or Virat who got quick starts. So, the stage is set for a massive showdown at Lord's on Sunday. This isn't just a series decider against England, it feels like a personal test for Rohit Sharma. Kotak is banking on him, promising "You might see a completely different innings from Rohit Sharma in Lord's." If the coach is right, India could take the series and silence some serious noise. If not... well, those 2027 World Cup whispers are only going to get louder. Get ready, because Sunday is gonna be intense!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.