Rohit Sharma’s Bold Stance on Retirement
After leading India to back-to-back ICC titles, Rohit
Sharma made a clear statement on his future: he is not retiring from
ODIs anytime soon. Celebrating the Champions Trophy 2025 victory
with Virat Kohli, Rohit addressed the speculation head-on, stating:
"Are hum koi retire nahi ho rahe hai" (We are
not retiring).
At the post-final press conference, he reaffirmed his
commitment to the format, dismissing any further rumors:
"One more thing, I’m not going to retire from this
format, just to make sure no more rumours are spread."
A Reinvented Rohit: The Aggressive Powerplay Game
Since India's semi-final exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup,
Rohit has transformed his batting approach. His aggressive mindset resulted in:
- 500+
runs at a 100+ strike rate in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
- A T20
World Cup title in 2024.
- The Champions
Trophy victory in 2025.
His Powerplay strike rate has skyrocketed:
- 2015-19:
75.81
- Since
2020: 115.51
Rohit has also hit more sixes in the first 10 overs of
ODIs than any other batter in recent years.
Ricky Ponting: Rohit Should Lead India in 2027
Cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes Rohit should captain
India in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He pointed out that once players
reach a certain stage in their career, people start speculating about their
retirement. However, he emphasized that Rohit’s current form and leadership
justify another World Cup campaign.
"When you start getting to that point of your
career, everyone's waiting for you to retire. And I don't know why, when you
can still play as well as he's played (in the final).”
Ponting also believes that losing the 2023 World Cup
final might be motivating Rohit to go for one last shot at the ODI title:
"That might be the thing that's playing on the back
of his mind. Just have one more crack at trying to win the ODI World Cup,
Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup. When you see him play like he did in the
Champions Trophy final, you wouldn't say that his time is up just yet."
Rohit’s Response: Focused on the Present
Despite Ponting’s belief that Rohit is aiming for 2027,
the Indian captain remains non-committal. Speaking to JioHotstar, he
stated:
"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."
For now, Rohit Sharma is enjoying his game and his
leadership role, keeping his future open-ended.