Rohit Sharma dismisses retirement talk after leading India to Champions Trophy triumph: 'Please don't spread rumours'

Rohit Sharma dismissed rumours regarding his ODI future in international cricket after leading India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday, insisting he will not be calling time on his 50-over career anytime soon and advised the media to avoid spreading “rumours”.

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Rohit led from the front with an attacking 76 off 83 balls and gave India the perfect start with a 105-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill as India defeated New Zealand by four wickets with an over to spare after being set a challenging 252-run target by Mitchell Santner’s men.

‘No future plans’: Rohit

It was the fourth time in three years that Rohit led the Indian team to the final of an ICC event, and the second time in as many years that he captained the Men in Blue to a global title. However, there were speculations of Rohit signing off from limited-overs cricket on a high if the Indian team won the ‘Mini World Cup’, which they ended up doing on Sunday.

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“I am not going to retire from this (ODI) format. Going forward please don’t spread rumours,” Rohit told reporters after Sunday’s final against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

“No future plans. Jo ho raha hain, woh chalta jayega (Whatever is happening will keep continuing),” he added.

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Rohit also commented on backing his ultra-aggressive approach in the powerplay in the final despite getting dismissed after positive starts earlier in the tournament. His method of going all guns blazing from the word ‘go’ had won India matches in the last two ICC events as well – the 2023 ICC World Cup at home as well as last year’s T20 World Cup.

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And on Sunday, the ‘Hitman’ persisted with that approach, and was rewarded with a match-winning half-century – his 58th in ODIs.

“I haven’t done anything different today as I have been doing in the last 3-4 matches. I know how important it is to make runs in Power Play because we have seen that after 10 overs, it becomes very difficult when the field spreads and spinners come,” Rohit said during the post-match press conference.

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Rohit added that the nature of the Dubai wicket, which hasn’t been as batting friendly like the Pakistani venues for the Champions Trophy, makes his role as an aggressor at the start of the innings all the more important.

“It becomes tough also because the pitch is already slow. So, it is very important for you to take chances from the top.

“I pick the bowler and where I can charge him and where I can play the shot. In that, you may not see that many big runs. Today after that 10 overs, I changed my game a bit. I had to play for a long time,” he added,” he added.

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Sunday’s Champions Trophy final against New Zealand was Rohit’s 273rd appearance in the 50-over format for the Indian team since his debut shortly after the 2007 World Cup.

Since then, the 37-year-old has amassed 11,168 at an average and strike rate of 48.76 and 92.80, collecting 32 centuries along the way.