Rohit Sharma has once again grabbed the attention of cricket fans, but this time it was his appearance rather than his batting that became the talking point. The former India captain was spotted in London alongside ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri, sporting a clean-shaven look that left many fans surprised.
Rohit has been associated with his trademark beard for several years, making his latest transformation particularly noticeable. The 39-year-old looked significantly younger in the picture shared by Shastri on social media during their casual outing in the English capital.
“Great bumping into a relaxed Shaaaarma on a stroll in London @ImRo45,” Shastri wrote while sharing the photograph.
Rohit looks 29. ❤️ @ImRo45
— Hrishikesh Ramani (@hrishiishere) July 31, 2026
The picture quickly went viral, with fans flooding social media with reactions to Rohit’s new appearance. Several supporters joked that the veteran batter looked almost unrecognisable without his beard, while others felt the clean-shaven look had taken years off his appearance.
Rohit is ageing backwards (without beard). https://t.co/adZ4XDr5II
— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) July 31, 2026
Some fans also compared Rohit’s latest look to his younger days in international cricket. The candid photograph offered a glimpse of the former captain enjoying some downtime after a busy period with the Indian team.
2007 Wc wale Rohit ki yaad aa gyi 😭😍 https://t.co/wLOGGeRRgT
— Chesassy (@chesassy45) July 31, 2026
Rohit is currently in London following India’s recently concluded ODI series against England. He played a starring role in the third ODI, producing a brilliant 138-run innings that underlined his continued ability to dominate at the international level.
The opener has remained in the United Kingdom during his break and was also spotted at MI London’s opening match of their The Hundred campaign against Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval on July 22. He attended the game alongside Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani.
Rohit’s current break comes after a significant transition in his international career. He retired from T20I cricket following India’s triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign before announcing his retirement from Test cricket in 2025.
The veteran batter has since focused exclusively on ODI cricket and is expected to remain part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Meanwhile, Shastri is also enjoying some time away after his commentary commitments during India’s England tour. His unexpected reunion with Rohit in London provided fans with a rare off-field glimpse of the former India captain.
While Rohit’s clean-shaven appearance became the immediate talking point, his focus remains firmly on extending his ODI career. He is expected to return to action when India take on the West Indies in a home ODI series beginning September 27.
Debayan Bhattacharyya is a seasoned sports journalist and digital media professional, currently serving as the Chief Sub Editor at ITV Digital (NewsX). A true Football-Fanatic Bong, his professional journey began at Zee Media, where he kicked off his career as a Sub-Editor for the sports team at India.com and CricketCountry. His ability to blend insightful analysis with rapid-fire news delivery soon led him to Times Network, where he served as a Senior Copy Editor for Times Now. Before his current role at NewsX, Debayan spent a significant tenure at OneIndia’s MyKhel as a Senior Sub Editor.
