Rohit Sharma's 6-Month India break comes after enduring worst ODI run since 2012

Rohit Sharma had a silent show in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where he couldn't notch a single 30-run mark in the entire campaign. Rohit's fans might take some time to digest it but it was Hitman's worst show in an ODI series since 2012. Not so long ago, Rohit Sharma delivered a solid 75-run performance against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, concluding that series with a total of 148 runs across three matches. While an average of nearly 50 would be considered successful for most, it was viewed as underwhelming by his elite standards. Although he looked comfortable at the crease, he struggled to convert his promising starts into the massive centuries that have defined his career.

Rohit Sharma’s ODI form hits 14-year low after silent show vs NZ

Following that series, Rohit represented Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with mixed results, smashing 155 against Sikkim before being dismissed for a duck against Uttarakhand. Heading into the ODI series against New Zealand, expectations were high that he would find his rhythm. However, the veteran batter failed to record even a single half-century, finishing the three-match stint with a disappointing total of just 61 runs.

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His individual scores of 26, 24, and 11 suggest a rare lack of timing and fluency. While he hadn't played a competitive match since late December 2025, it didn't appear to be a simple case of being "out of touch." Instead, the series against New Zealand proved to be a frustrating anomaly where, for reasons unknown, the former captain simply couldn't get his game to click.

The nature of Rohit's recent dismissals does not point toward a fundamental technical flaw. Rather than being undone by challenging swing or seam movement, he fell while attempting to take the initiative against the bowlers, failing to properly execute his aggressive shots. Despite this, the statistical outcome is stark: this has become his most unproductive ODI series since the 2012 tour of Sri Lanka, a low point where he managed only 13 runs across five matches and suffered consecutive ducks.

Rohit Sharma's six-month long ODI hiatus starts

Looking ahead, Rohit’s focus will shift to the domestic stage as he prepares for the 2026 Indian Premier League season with the Mumbai Indians. However, his next international assignment in the 50-over format will not take place until India tours England in July. This significant gap in the ODI schedule raises intriguing questions about how the veteran opener will utilize this time to recalibrate his game before returning to the national colors.