Rohit Sharma Joins Exclusive Captains Club, Quashes Retirement Rumors
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DUBAI (ANI)- India captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed speculation about his retirement after leading the team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand in Dubai on March 9.
“Just to clarify, I am not retiring. Please do not spread any rumors,” Rohit stated in the post-match press conference, ending widespread speculation about his future in international cricket.
With this triumph, Rohit became only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to win multiple ICC titles. He is also the only skipper to have led a team to the final of every ICC tournament, further cementing his legacy in global cricket. India’s victory marked their third ICC Champions Trophy title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
Rohit Joins Exclusive Captains’ Club
With his commanding performance, Rohit became only the fourth captain—and the second Indian—to win the Player of the Match award in an ICC final away from home, joining Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1975), Ricky Ponting (Australia, 2003), and MS Dhoni (India, 2011).
Reflecting on his approach, Rohit emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the powerplay. “I haven’t changed anything; I’ve been following the same approach over the past few matches. We’ve seen throughout the tournament that batting becomes difficult after 10 overs when the field spreads and spinners come into play,” he explained.
India’s Title-Winning Performance
After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bat first, posting 251/7 in their 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53*) played crucial knocks, while India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) kept the scoring in check.
India responded with a strong 105-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma (76) and Shubman Gill (31). Despite losing wickets in the middle overs, Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) stabilized the innings before KL Rahul (34*) and Hardik Pandya (18) guided India to a six-wicket win with an over to spare. Rohit’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match award.
Celebrations and Viral Moments
Following the triumph, players celebrated with their families. Rohit Sharma shared special moments with his wife Ritika and daughter Samaira, while Ravindra Jadeja lifted his daughter Nidhyana in joy. Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, were also seen celebrating, with videos of Kohli rushing into the stands to hug Anushka going viral on social media.
India’s victory not only reaffirmed their dominance in white-ball cricket but also marked a personal milestone for Rohit Sharma, further solidifying his status as one of India’s most successful captains.
