New Delhi: Rohit Sharma’s India future has come under the scanner once again after the senior batter’s poor show in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. The Hitman’s dreadful run in the series continued on Sunday, January 18, as he flopped once again in the series-deciding third and final ODI against the Kiwis at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
The expectations were high from Rohit, with India in pursuit of a huge targetof 338 runs in the deciding third ODI. However, the senior opener failed to deliver in the run chase as he was dismissed cheaply on 11 off 13 balls. It was Rohit’s third consecutive failure in the series after low-key scores in the first two games.
The Hitman was dismissed cheaply on 26 in the 1st ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara and managed only 24 runs in the 2nd ODI in Rajkot as the Kiwis registered a seven-wicket win to level the three-match series 1-1. The final third ODI was a chance for Rohit to bounce back among the runs and end the series on a high, however, the 38-year-old failed to grab the opportunity.
Fans raised doubts over Rohit’s future in ODIs as his poor form continued in the ODI series against the Kiwis. With the Hitman playing only a single format for India, he needed to continue performing in the series to cement his place in the squad ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup next year. However, many feel Rohit’s spot as an opener might get scrutinised with Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings.
Fans react as Rohit Sharma flops in 3rd ODI against New Zealand:
Dropped once, still Rohit Sharma gone cheap again.
Time for India to move on, be ruthless, and invest in a future batter and Sai Sudharsan deserves that long rope for 2027 WC. pic.twitter.com/7D1oZM6YYE
— DAVID (@1DAVID92) January 18, 2026
Rohit Sharma became a burden in team India. Gautam Gambhir was right to move on from Rohit..
With this form Rohit doesn’t deserve any place in ODI World Cup 2027. pic.twitter.com/w1I3tjxWh1— Satya Prakash (@_SatyaPrakash08) January 18, 2026
🚨 ROHIT SHARMA DISMISSED IN 11 OF 13 BALLS. 🚨
Rohit Sharma in New Zealand series.
– Match: 3
– Runs: 61
– 50s: 0
– 100s: 0– On this form Gautam Gambhir maybe drop Rohit Sharma in WC 2027. 🥹pic.twitter.com/AaKhLY20I2
— Sam (@Cricsam01) January 18, 2026
Nothing against Rohit Sharma honestly, but we seriously need to move on from him.
He’s the most overhyped batter ever, living on PR and reputation.
At this level, fraud hype can’t hide inconsistency forever. pic.twitter.com/bq0Xe6Bixb
— Clutch GOD (@clutchgod018) January 18, 2026
nothing against Rohit sharma but i think bcci should move on from him pic.twitter.com/GFVI9HUsDZ
— Gmaxi 👑 (@yogesh123122) January 18, 2026
After he failed in the third and final ODI against the Kiwis in Indore, Rohit ended the three-match series with only 61 runs in three matches at an average of just over 20 and a strike rate of 76.25. The Hitman headed into the series after great performances in the ODI series against Australia and South Africa following his comeback last year. However, he failed to replicate his heroics against the Kiwis.
India suffer top-order collapse in 3rd ODI
India suffered a spectacular top-order collapse in the third ODI against New Zealand as the likes of Rohit, skipper Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer all failed to deliver. While Rohit was dismissed cheaply on 11 by pacer Zakary Foulkes, Gill was cleaned up by Kyle Jamieson on a duck. Iyer fell to New Zealand’s short-ball ploy as he was sent packing cheaply on just 3 off 10 balls by pacer Kristan Clarke, reducing India to 68/3 in 12 overs in the huge 338-run chase.
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