Rohit Sharma's fitness gains fuel 2027 World Cup bid, future unclear

Rohit Sharma, India’s 38-year-old one-day international captain, has stepped up his fitness work and passed recent assessments as he presses a bid to lead India at the 2027 ODI World Cup, but his long-term place in the team remains uncertain amid conflicting reports about the selectors’ plans. Sharma has been training intensively since retiring from T20 internationals and Test cricket and is expected to be available for India’s three-match ODI tour of Australia that begins on October 19, a series widely seen as a key audition for the veteran opener.

Those close to Sharma say the changes are visible. A sports reporter who has spoken with National Cricket Academy contacts and others who saw him in Bengaluru said Sharma looked markedly leaner and reported a Yo-Yo fitness score that underlined his commitment. The captain has worked with former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and reportedly shed significant weight over recent weeks, performances that supporters point to as evidence he is preparing with a long-term target in mind rather than a single series.

Team-mates and recent opponents have publicly applauded Sharma’s influence. Chennai fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed described him as "a...