Team India won the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai. Chasing 252, India successfully reached the target with 6 balls in hands. Captain Rohit Sharma led the chase with a remarkable 76, while Shreyas Iyer added a crucial 48. KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 guided India home in a tense finish. This victory marks India’s third Champions Trophy title, having previously won in 2002 and 2013, making them the only team to achieve this feat. However, the whole tournament was marked with rumors of Rohit and Virat retirement.
Shutting down the rumors, both Virat Kohli and Indian captain Rohit Sharma, proved that they still have what it takes to play at the highest levels. Let’s read about the same in more details.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Retirement: India’s Star Duo Takes a Dig at Retirement Rumours
Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 final, there was talks about whether Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would retire from ODI cricket post the tournament. However, Rohit Sharma, 37, put those rumors to rest following India’s victory over New Zealand in the final. During celebrations, Rohit was seen telling Kohli, “Bhai hum koi retire nahi ho rahein hai, inko lag raha hai” (Brother, I am not retiring. These people think), as the two shared a lighthearted moment.
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Rohit’s form and leadership had faced intense scrutiny after India’s disappointing Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia. However, in ODI cricket, he has excelled, leading India to 15 wins in their last 16 major ICC event matches, with the only loss being in the 2023 World Cup final. In the Champions Trophy final, Rohit played a crucial role, scoring 76 runs off 83 balls to guide India to a four-wicket victory. He finished the tournament with 180 runs in five games, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 100.
Rohit’s leadership has been pivotal in India’s success in the tournament and over the recent few years, as they have won eight consecutive ODIs in 2025. While he clarified his intent to continue playing ODIs, it remains to be seen whether he will retire from Test cricket after India’s upcoming tour to England.
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'I'm not going to retire': Rohit Sharma to continue playing ODIs for India after Champions Trophy glory
Rohit Sharma confirmed that he is not retiring and will continue playing ODIs for India after leading the team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. At the press conference, Rohit addressed retirement rumors, stating, “I am not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure there are no rumors spread moving forward.” Despite speculation surrounding his future, especially after he dropped himself from the Playing XI during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the 38-year-old made it clear that he has no immediate plans to step away from ODI cricket.
Hitman’s future plan and his current performance
Following a strong Champions Trophy campaign in which he contributed significantly to India’s victory, including a crucial 76 in the final, Rohit made this statement. Even if he is still dedicated to playing ODIs, there may be concerns regarding his future leadership position, particularly with Shubman Gill as vice captain in the wings. After winning several ICC titles, Rohit has already accomplished something that few captains have done. The 2027 World Cup in South Africa may be his next major test. He will be 40 by then, though, and it’s unclear if he will continue to captain the team or hand it over to the younger Gill.
India Vice-Captain Shubman Gill Clarified ‘No talks’ on Rohit and Virat Retirement
Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill, before the Champions Trophy final, clarified that there had been no discussion in the dressing room about the potential Rohit Virat retirement from the ODIs. 25-year-old Gill emphasized that both players are performing strongly, with Kohli delivering standout performances against Pakistan and Australia, while Rohit continues to make crucial contributions in the powerplay.
The depth in the order, which gives the top-order players, like Rohit and Kohli, more freedom to perform, is why Gill hailed India’s batting lineup as the greatest he has ever been a part of. The team’s batting depth will be crucial to their success, according to Gill, who has been India’s most prolific batsman over the past two years.
Apart from Rohit and Virat retirement, a key consideration for India is the potential change in leadership. While Rohit Sharma continues to contribute significantly, as seen in his match-winning 76 in the Champions Trophy final, he may eventually step down as captain.
Given his age—he will be 40 by the 2027 World Cup—it’s uncertain whether he will lead India in South Africa. At some point, Rohit could pass the captaincy to his deputy, Shubman Gill, who is ready to take on greater responsibilities. This transition, though not immediate, could shape India’s leadership in the coming years.
What Rohit and Kohli said after Champions Trophy win?
Rohit, during the press conference, put all rumours to bed as he said that he isn’t retiring from ODIs.
“Koi future plan ni hai. Jo chal ra hai wo chalega (There’s no future plan, things will keep on going as they are). I’m not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure that no rumours are spread moving forward,” said Rohit.
Kohli gave a hint about his future, saying that he wants to leave the Indian team in a better position when he finally decides to step away from the game.
“I try to speak to these guys as much as possible, share my experience about my longevity. I try to step in wherever I can to help improve their games. When you want to leave, you want to leave the game in a better position. That’s what we are striving for,” said Kohli.
The duo became India’s most successful players in men’s ICC events as they went past MS Dhoni with the win on Sunday. And for now, the Rohit and Virat retirement rumours can be put to rest.