The mood in the Indian way must be hard to read now. London images show the coach Gautam Gambhir share a laugh with Rohit Sharma in the Lord’s balcony on the eve of Sunday’s third ODI against England. But they could not mask the intense pressure that the most senior player of the team must be subjected to the decision of the series. The significance of the match extends far beyond another bilateral series. Its result could affect the composition of the team and the planning in the next 15 months.The team’s management and selection committee have been ruthless in their decision making over the past year, putting performance above a player’s stature and reputation. Yet uncertainty remains over how Rohit will fit into India’s plans for the ODI World Cup in South Africa.Late on Friday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the 39-year-old “will continue to represent India as long as he is in the scheme of things”. It is clear, however, that the selectors and management want to develop Yashasvi Jaiswal as an alternative opener. Another unconvincing outing on Sunday could dash Rohit’s hopes of playing in his fourth World Cup.After the England series, India’s next ODI is against West Indies in Trivandrum on September 27. Rohit looked visibly uncomfortable against the bounce and movement in England. Since moving away from the other two formats, he has generally only found form late in a series, even at home.The official line in Indian cricket remains that there are few concerns about Rohit’s form. “It’s a tough job with a new ball in front. We’ve seen that throughout the series. The ball moves. So batting in front, it’s not easy. No doubt Rohit will work,” India’s fast bowling coach Morne Morkel said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.