In the aftermath of India’s dramatic victory over New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian captain Rohit Sharma vehemently brushed aside rumors of his potential retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket. With growing whispers that he would retire after leading India to their third Champions Trophy title, Rohit used his press conference to make a bold statement.
While fans and media members thronged the hall to listen to his statement, Rohit announced, “I am not retiring, let there be no rumors about it.” There was clapping in the hall as his blunt announcement shook all into alertness. The blunt announcement ended speculation that he would make an announcement regarding his retirement from cricket straight after the much-awaited competition.
Many had predicted that his swan song from ODI cricket would come in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Particularly after he had already retired from T20 internationals after India’s win in the T20 World Cup in 2024. But Rohit’s latest announcement has indicated that he is still devoted to the 50-over game, looking towards challenges in the future.
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His announcement has set those speculations at rest and made his position clear. It is now considered that his primary concern may be gearing up for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, with the victory in the Champions Trophy providing extra confidence to pursue his dreams.
A Starry Final Performance: Rohit Sharma’s Performance in the Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma’s all-rounder effort in the final of the Champions Trophy helped India to victory. With 76 runs off 83 balls in the final, he was rewarded with the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his match-winning innings. His effort saw India to pursue New Zealand’s score of 252 runs and win by four wickets and the title.
Following the match, Rohit was overjoyed and content with the outcome, highlighting how the team had played great cricket throughout the tournament. “It is a great feeling to get the result you want,” he stated, commenting on his captaincy and the team effort. Rohit also disclosed that playing aggressively was not his normal approach but that he was set to experiment with something new in this tournament.
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He confessed, “It is not my nature to play aggressively, but I wanted to do this badly,” a change in his ODI cricket style. It was Rohit’s triumph, but rather more importantly it was the triumph of a team showing the support of his management and team.
He went on to say, “When you are trying something new, you must have the support of the team and management.” This was how he framed the experience of trying out a different batting technique.
He attributed all this to his conversations with Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir, who have played a key role in encouraging his new style. “I had always wanted to do this. I have played in another manner all these years, and now we are reaping the benefits with this manner,” Rohit said, underlining the significance of team harmony in embracing a new style.
Rohit Sharma’s Journey and Emphasis on Future Plans
The press conference, in which most had expected Rohit to announce his retirement, instead announced Rohit’s desire to play on. Having already retired from T20 internationals after the 2024 World Cup, Rohit’s next move in ODI cricket had been the talk of the town. Now that he wants to play in the 50-over format, the spotlight is on his goal for the next 2027 ICC World Cup.
Rohit’s declaration was direct and assertive—he was not stepping down from ODIs, and speculation regarding his future in the game could be laid to rest. His captaincy and performances during the tournament cemented his role as one of India’s top players.
The title win in the Champions Trophy placed another feather in the cap of his already storied career, further assuring his dedication to captaining India in international cricket for the next few years.
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