Watch: Shastri's "Silencing Critics" remark on Rohit goes viral

Former India head coach and commentator Ravi Shastri has once again backed Rohit Sharma amid retirement speculation. Shastri recently urged the Indian team management to let the veteran opener continue playing for as long as he wants after Rohit's memorable century at Lord's. The India captain answered his critics in style with a brilliant 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI against England.

A day later, on July 21, the former India team captain was spotted at the opening match of The Hundred 2026. The 39-year-old made a stylish appearance at Lord's, where he received a warm welcome from fans. Cameras quickly turned towards the Indian star, with his presence becoming one of the major talking points of the tournament opener.

During the live broadcast, Ravi Shastri's commentary grabbed attention on social media. As the cameras focused on Rohit, Shastri said, "Relaxed after silencing his critics." The remark quickly went viral, with fans praising the timing of the comment after Rohit's match-winning century against England.

Watch the viral video here:

Ravi Shastri's viral remark on Rohit Sharma during The Hundred opener

In a video shared by Star Sports, Rohit Sharma was seen attending the opening match of The Hundred 2026 at Lord's. The Indian captain looked relaxed as he interacted with fans and Nita Ambani while enjoying the tournament opener. His appearance quickly became one of the biggest talking points on social media.

During the live broadcast, one of the commentators asked Ravi Shastri, "Well, how would you define the Hitman, Ravi?" Responding to the question, Shastri smiled and said, "Relaxed after silencing his critics." His remark immediately caught the attention of fans and soon went viral across social media platforms.

Rohit's appearance at The Hundred, along with his calm demeanour and confident body language, reinforced the belief that he remains fully focused on cricket. After answering his critics with a memorable century against England, the veteran opener now appears ready to focus on the next phase of his career rather than the retirement debate.

What Shastri said and the backstory behind "silencing his critics"

During the Hundred 2026 opener, one of the commentators asked Ravi Shastri, "Well, the Hitman is in, Ravi?" Shastri replied, "Yes, he'll be nice and relaxed after silencing his critics. A lot of noise was made before that last One-Day International, and he gave a nice, tight slap with the bat. 138. His first hundred at Lord's. He's seen it all. Five titles for the Mumbai Indians as captain." The remark quickly went viral on social media.

Shastri has consistently backed Rohit Sharma and believes the veteran opener should never have been asked to prove his place in the Indian team. He said that if Rohit still has the desire to play, works hard, and enjoys the game, he should be allowed to continue for as long as he wants. According to Shastri, only Rohit should decide when it is time to retire.

Rohit also responded to the retirement and selection speculation after his century against England. He said that people are free to share their opinions, but his focus is on representing India and helping the team win matches. The 39-year-old added that his job is to score runs whenever he gets the opportunity to play for his country.

Fan reactions pour in — What this means for Rohit Sharma going forward

Ravi Shastri's comment during The Hundred opener quickly went viral, with many fans praising his support for Rohit Sharma. Several users on social media agreed that Rohit's century against England was the perfect answer to the criticism surrounding his form and future. Here is how the netizens reacted:

Love Ambani for pampering the real person and not the reel person
— Rohan Jackson (@Rohan4824) July 22, 2026

Legends ✴️
— Amanw Cricket Board (ACB) (@amanwcricket) July 21, 2026

Damm...
— amandeep (@caamansahani) July 21, 2026

still can't get over this 🔨 pic.twitter.com/nXrY18yeAU
— madje (@m1krshna) July 21, 2026

The veteran opener has once again shown why he remains one of India's most important players in white-ball cricket. His match-winning 138 at Lord's not only ended the debate over his form but also strengthened his case to continue leading India's batting lineup in the upcoming matches.

With the retirement speculation now taking a back seat, Rohit is expected to focus on the challenges ahead. If he continues to score runs consistently, the discussion is likely to shift from his future to his performances, with fans hoping to see many more memorable innings from the Indian captain.