Kapil Dev Advocates for Celebration of Rohit Sharma's Cricket Legacy

Kapil Dev has urged cricket fans to celebrate Rohit Sharma's illustrious career rather than dwell on his impending retirement. As speculation mounts regarding Rohit's future in the sport, Kapil reflects on the joy and entertainment Rohit has provided throughout his journey. With Rohit struggling for runs in the current series against England, the conversation around his retirement has intensified. Kapil hopes that when the time comes, Rohit will leave the game on a high note, ideally with a century. Read on to explore more about their thoughts and Rohit's cricket legacy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 15:23 IST

Kapil Dev's Perspective on Rohit Sharma's Future

On Saturday, Kapil Dev expressed that whenever Rohit Sharma decides to retire, it should be a moment of celebration. He emphasized that the Indian captain has provided immense joy to cricket enthusiasts throughout his career. Speaking at the Kapil Dev Sunil Gupta Super Speciality Hospital, he addressed the rumors surrounding Rohit's potential final ODI at Lord's.

"We should focus on happiness, not sadness. Rohit has brought us so much joy over the years. Everyone eventually retires—Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar—they all have to leave the game," Kapil remarked.

The legendary captain of the 1983 World Cup team urged fans to honor Rohit's accomplishments rather than mourn his exit. "When he retires, we should celebrate his life and the joy he has brought, not just to India but globally. We should be happy, not sad," he stated.

Wishing Rohit the best, Kapil expressed hope that he would conclude his career on a high note. "Yes, he will retire one day. I hope he scores a century before he leaves," he added.

Growing Speculation About Retirement

At 39 years old, Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut against Ireland on June 23, 2007. He has already retired from both T20I and Test formats. Speculation regarding his retirement has intensified during the current series against England, where he has faced challenges in scoring runs.

In the first two ODIs, Rohit scored 11 and 26 runs, totaling 241 runs in eight matches this year, with an average of 30.12 and a highest score of 79.