NEW DELHI, Mar 10: Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed all speculations about his retiring from the ODI format though for the time being has refused to shed light on the possibility of participating in the 2027 World Cup when he will be turning 40.
After India’s victory in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, Rohit Sharma gave a big statement clearing the air on his future in ODIs. “I am not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure no rumours are spread moving forward. Koi future plan hai nahi, jo chal raha hai chalega (there is no future plan, whatever is going on will continue as it is),” Rohit Sharma said.
“There is a lot of hunger even in guys who have played a lot of cricket and it rubs down on even the younger players. We have five to six players who are real stalwarts. It makes the job easier for all of us.” That statement assured all that he is not going anywhere soon.
However, he will be 38 in two months’ time and with India’s next major ODI tournament being the 2027 ODI World Cup, it remains to be seen how long he plays at the top level in the ODI format. A day after the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph, he revealed that he is not yet thinking about the 2027 World Cup.
“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,” he said.
“There’s no point in making such statements right now. Realistically, I have always taken my career one step at a time. I don’t like thinking too far into the future, and I haven’t done so in the past either. For now, I am enjoying my cricket and the time I spend with this team. I hope my teammates enjoy my presence as well. That’s all that matters at this point.”
Rohit Sharma also opened up about the team’s journey, overcoming challenges, and his personal outlook on the future. Rohit shared insights into India’s approach, their ability to handle adversity, and the evolution of their mindset since past tournament heartbreaks. India’s Champions Trophy campaign was nothing short of remarkable. In the final, they defeated New Zealand by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.
“We went undefeated despite losing all five tosses. Yet, we still won the trophy,” he said. “Winning a tournament without a single defeat is a massive achievement in itself, and it gives me immense satisfaction. Until we lifted the trophy, no one really thought about it. But after the victory, it hit us—we had gone through the entire tournament unbeaten. That realization made it even more special,” Rohit said.
Rohit credited the team’s unity and clarity of roles for their success. “We have an incredibly solid team, and it’s a joy to play alongside such committed individuals. Everyone knows their role and responsibilities—what needs to be done and what must be avoided. Of course, emotions run high on the field. Sometimes, I get a bit carried away, but it’s all in the spirit of the game. The main goal is to win, and we are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve that.”
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Preparation played a key role in ensuring India could adapt to conditions without Bumrah, he said. “After the Australia tour, we had about 20-25 days before the tournament. We closely monitored the ILT20 matches to study the pitches and playing conditions. We analyzed what kind of bowlers were needed for those surfaces and shaped our squad accordingly.”
(Manas Dasgupta)
