He confirmed that he will continue playing in the 50-over format for the country
10 March, 2025
PHOTO: AP
After leading India to a historic victory in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, captain Rohit Sharma dimisses rumors about his retirement from one-day internationals (ODI).
He confirmed that he will continue playing in the 50-over format for the country, saying, "I'm not retiring from this format, make sure no rumors are spread."
Sharma, who played a key role in India’s third Champions Trophy title with a quick-fire 76 runs, dismissed any speculation about his future. India’s victory marked their third Champions Trophy win, following previous titles in 2002 and 2013.
Reflecting on the tournament, Rohit emphasized the importance of spinners in India's strategy.
“When I learned the tournament was to be held in Dubai, we decided to select four spinners because the conditions there favored them,” he explained.
The team’s spinners were chosen based on this, and they delivered remarkable performances,” he further explained.
India faced a few challenges during the final, especially after losing three quick wickets. Rohit admitted that the early setbacks put pressure on the team, but he praised their ability to recover.
“It was a tough phase, and we needed a big partnership to stabilize the game,” he said.
Rohit also addressed the pain of India’s loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final on home soil.
“The World Cup 2023 final on home ground is a regret. However, the team’s performances over the last three years have been remarkable, winning all matches in the T20 World Cup, securing the trophy, and now claiming victory in the Champions Trophy,” he said.
With this victory, India has now won three Champions Trophy titles, surpassing Australia, who have two. India finished unbeaten in the tournament, played across Pakistan and the UAE, despite the political tensions that led them to play all their matches in Dubai.
