Steve Waugh questions Rohit Sharma’s commitment to 2027 ODI World Cup

Australia great Steve Waugh has put a question mark over Rohit Sharma‘s place in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, stating that the veteran opener must demonstrate 100 per cent commitment and preparation if he is to make the tournament. Waugh made the remarks on Star Sports, with the 2027 edition scheduled for October-November 2027.

Rohit has retired from Test cricket and T20 internationals and now plays only in the ODI format. He will be 40 years old when the 2027 World Cup begins, a fact that has prompted scrutiny over how long he can continue at the highest level.

“Only Rohit Sharma can answer that question. At that age, you’ve still got the skill and the know-how. But have you got the desire to be there, train hard and make the sacrifices to prepare 100%? Rohit’s the only one who can answer that. There’s no doubt that he has the talent to score runs. But is he going to prepare at 100% and be fully committed to it,” Waugh said on Star Sports, as quoted by NDTV.

What did Steve Waugh say about Rohit’s preparation?

Waugh’s central argument was that talent alone is not sufficient for a player approaching 40 to compete at World Cup level. He stressed that the deciding factor would be Rohit’s willingness to put in the work required to be fully ready for the tournament, framing it as a question only the batter himself could answer.

“Regarding his 100% commitment and preparation, if the answer is yes, then he can make it. But if the answer to either of those questions is no, then he won’t make it. It’s obvious that he has the talent, but there is a lot more needed than talent to be successful, so it’s really about 100% commitment,” Waugh added.

Rohit has publicly stated his intention to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup and win the trophy for India, making clear that he views the tournament as a personal goal. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also dismissed retirement speculation surrounding Rohit ahead of the third England ODI earlier this year, offering an official endorsement of the opener’s continued involvement in the format.

What is Rohit Sharma’s recent ODI record?

Rohit’s most recent ODI appearance came in July 2026 against England, when he scored 138 off 110 balls in the third match at Lord’s. That innings underlined that his ability to produce match-winning performances at the top of the order remains intact, even as questions about his long-term availability persist.

Rohit has been a prolific scorer in the ODI World Cups for India. He has scored 1575 runs across three editions of the tournament, scoring seven centuries, the most for an Indian batter. Five of those came in 2019, the most by a batter in a single edition. His record in the format gives considerable context to why his availability and form for 2027 continues to attract attention from former players and analysts alike.