Rohit Sharma opens up about Test and ODI plans following T20I retirement

India captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from T20Is after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he assured fans that he will continue to play Test and ODI cricket for a while longer.

Sharma, who became India's captain across all formats after Virat Kohli stepped down in 2021, led the team in the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship final in 2023 before finally clinching the T20 World Cup in 2024. 

After India’s triumph in Bridgetown, Sharma confirmed his retirement from T20Is but did not specify how long he will continue to play in the other formats. Two weeks later, he made it clear that he has no immediate plans to retire from ODI and Test cricket.

“I just said it, I don’t look that far ahead. So clearly, you will be seeing me play for a while,” Rohit said in an event in USA.

Sharma also reflected on the tense final against South Africa, where India managed to win despite the Proteas needing just 30 runs from the last 30 balls, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s strong performance. 

“I was completely blank because I don’t think too far ahead. I focus on the situation. It was important for all of us to stay calm and execute our plans. So when they needed 30 off 30, the pressure was on us and the five overs that we bowled then, it showed we did our job calmly, didn’t panic which was very good from our side,” he further added.

Rohit Sharma leaves T20Is as the highest scorer with 4,231 runs in 159 matches and holds the record for the most centuries (five) in T20 internationals. He has won two T20 World Cup titles: the first as a player in 2007 and now as captain in 2024.