India, July 18 -- For a few hours, Rohit Sharma appeared to be walking towards an ending he had neither announced nor chosen.

Reports suggested that the selectors wanted to move beyond him after the ODI series against England, potentially turning the match at Lord's into his final appearance for India. The timing made the speculation particularly uncomfortable. Rohit was still playing, still hoping to reach the 2027 World Cup and, crucially, had not publicly indicated that retirement was imminent.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India eventually intervened. Secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed the suggestion that Lord's had already been designated as Rohit's farewell, insisting that the former captain would continue representing India...