The captain of India, Rohit Sharma, has put an end to all speculations about his likely retirement from ODI after his side clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title, as he led India to their third title in this championship with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand. He said that he is in no mood to retire from the format.
Rohit’s Stance on ODI Retirement
At the post-match press conference, while answering a query about his future in the ODIs, Rohit, with a stiff face, confirmed that he would not be looking at retiring from that format to, in a way, squash any rumors that were doing the rounds. “To make sure that no rumor goes around, I’m not going to retire from this format,” he said on a rather serious note.
When further probed about what will be the future following back-to-back ICC titles, Rohit maintained that he did not have a planned future after winning the T20 World Cup. “It will keep happening what has to happen,” he said, adding that he would prefer to look ahead without being too paranoid about his future.
Celebrating India’s Historic ICC Achievements
Reflecting on India’s remarkable achievements, Rohit Sharma expressed immense pride for having led the team to back-to-back ICC titles, notably the Champions Trophy, in which an undefeated India claimed the title. “It is a great achievement for the team to win two ICC trophies and to go undefeated is icing on the cake,” he said.
For Rohit, the important part was not just about winning the title, but how they went through the preparation adapted to the conditions, and executed the plans against big teams.
Read More
“We wanted to come here and prepare and play the opposition. We used the conditions well and we won,” he added. Rohit did take a moment to remember that India is the first team ever to finish two major ICC tournaments undefeated in history. First, he acknowledged the togetherness of the whole team, the hard work, and the performance under stress.
Praise for KL Rahul’s Calmness in Tense Moments
KL Rahul was scintillating during the final, being calm and finishing well under pressure and almost single-handedly bringing India home. Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s cool skills, especially during the tense moments when India was chasing 252 runs. Rahul remained not out on 34, scored off 33 balls, and took India home in conditions that were tough for batting.
Rohit noted the way Rahul kept his cool in most pressured situations. “Again, very solid mind,” said Rohit, pointing out mentally tough Rahul. “He never is charged by any pressure that’s around him. That’s exactly the reason we want him in that middle phase; he’d try and finish off games for us. With the experience he has alongside his class, there’s this assuredness when he bats.”
Read More
Because of this calmness under pressure, other players, like Hardik Pandya, were able to express themselves freely. “For example, Hardik came in and played some great shots in both games,” Rohit mentioned, “which opened things up for us.” Overall, he sounded quite impressed with the batting collectively throughout the tournament, pointing to the benefits of every individual’s contribution.
Rohit’s Explosive Start to the Chase
Rohit himself contributed significantly to India’s pursuit, laying a good platform in the powerplay with a 49-run aggressive knock from 40 deliveries. He then contributed 105 runs with Shubman Gill for the opening wicket, sending India off to a flying start. Rohit eventually completed his innings with a well-crafted 76 from 83 deliveries.
Rohit described how the batting depth in India helped him have the liberty to go out and attack early in the chase. “It makes a lot easier; it gives you freedom as well,” he emphasized, pointing to the value of having batting depth.
He thanked the fact that players such as Ravindra Jadeja are present at No. 8, which helps the top order go out and attack more comfortably. “As long as I’m clear in my head, it’s the most important thing,” he said, highlighting the importance of mental clarity in his game.
Praise for India’s Spinners
Rohit Sharma also saved special compliments for his spinners, who had played a key role in India’s triumph in the Champions Trophy. India used a four-pronged spin attack in the tournament, which paid off in conditions where spinners held the upper hand. He made special mention of Varun Chakravarthy, who was the star performer after stepping in for an injured player in the team.
Rohit pointed out how difficult it was for spinners on such a pitch but did credit them with the capability of stepping up to the challenge. “Not only this game but from the start, our spinners especially, there’s too much expectation when you are playing on a surface like that, but they never let us down,” he said.
The uniformity of the spin assault was central to India’s success, with Chakravarthy being the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. Rohit pointed out Chakravarthy’s contribution, especially in India’s group-stage match against New Zealand, where he picked 5 for 42. “When we are playing on such pitches, we want the batters to do something different, and that’s when he becomes a lot more dangerous,” Rohit said, appreciating Chakravarthy’s skill set and his capability to perform under pressure.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Impressive Contributions
Chakravarthy, who was not in the initial preliminary squad, justified his inclusion by bagging nine wickets at a rate of 15.11 and an economy rate of 4.53 in three games. His five-wicket against New Zealand changed the course of the tournament, and Rohit had only praise for the bowler’s adaptability and class.
“He’s got something different about him,” Rohit said, highlighting Chakravarthy’s special talent and how his talent was utilized in the tournament. “We wanted to utilize that to the maximum, and he didn’t let us down. He’s got great quality in his bowling, fortunately, it came to use at different times.”
India’s Historic Champions Trophy Victory
In the Champions Trophy final, Indian victory was greatly attributed to Rohit Sharma, both due to his great leadership and performance, and currently, he is keeping focus on maintaining the current momentum of the team. In his comments about India’s future, he appears keen to keep pressing for the best in ODIs and also to understand the real collective effort that the team made to bag their latest ICC title.
Rohit Sharma’s captain also further emphasizes unity, mental toughness, and the flexibility of strategies, promising a long, strong era for Indian cricket in the future. Whether he decides to pull the curtains down on his ODI anytime soon or whether he continues to do so, Sharma stays central to India’s charge for continuous success in the world.
ALSO READ: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Prize Money And Award Winners Breakdown
