Rohit Sharma has made it clear that he has no immediate plans to retire from One Day Internationals (ODIs), despite widespread speculation following India's triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, the Indian captain firmly dismissed retirement rumors and expressed his desire to continue playing the format. "I am not going to retire from this (ODI) format. Going forward, please don't spread rumors," Rohit stated, putting an end to the discussions surrounding his future in 50-over cricket. His statement reassured fans who were concerned that he might step away from ODIs after leading India to back-to-back ICC trophies.
In the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, Rohit played a crucial role in securing India's victory. He scored a match-winning 76 runs off 83 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, setting the foundation for India’s successful chase of the 252-run target. His aggressive intent at the top, combined with a solid opening partnership of 105 runs with Shubman Gill, gave India a dominant start. After his dismissal, key contributions from Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya ensured that India crossed the finish line in 49 overs, sealing a four-wicket victory. Rohit’s outstanding knock earned him the Player of the Match award, further solidifying his reputation as one of India's finest limited-overs captains.
This victory marked India’s third ICC Champions Trophy title, with previous wins coming in 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013 under MS Dhoni’s leadership. The win also cemented Rohit Sharma’s legacy as a captain who has now guided India to consecutive ICC trophies, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 as well. Under his leadership, the Indian team has been in dominant form, showing exceptional consistency across formats.
However, when asked about his plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Rohit remained non-committal, stating that he isn’t thinking too far ahead at this point. "Right now, I am taking things as they come. It wouldn’t be fair for me to think too far ahead. At this moment, my focus is on playing well and maintaining the right mindset. I don’t want to draw any lines and say whether I will or won’t play in the 2027 World Cup. There’s no point in making such statements right now. Realistically, I have always taken my career one step at a time. I don’t like thinking too far into the future, and I haven’t done so in the past either. For now, I am enjoying my cricket and the time I spend with this team. I hope my teammates enjoy my presence as well. That’s all that matters at this point," Rohit said on Star Sports.
With this statement, Rohit has made it clear that while he remains committed to ODI cricket for the foreseeable future, he is not yet thinking about the 2027 World Cup. His focus remains on staying fit, performing well, and contributing to India's success. His leadership and batting prowess continue to be crucial assets for the team, and his fans can look forward to seeing him in action in the upcoming matches.
