At a press conference following India’s four-wicket victory over New Zealand, Rohit Sharma stated he won’t retire from ODI cricket amidst rumors. He emphasized a lack of future plans and praised the team for winning two ICC titles undefeated. Rohit highlighted KL Rahul’s composure during the tense chase and acknowledged the batting depth in the lineup, which allowed for an aggressive start. Rohit himself scored 76 runs and credited the spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarthy, for their strong performances throughout the tournament. He appreciated Varun’s unique bowling style and how it contributed to India’s success.
Rohit mentioned that there are “no plans for the future” and that “what is happening will continue to happen” in ODI cricket, when questioned about his career trajectory after securing back-to-back ICC titles. He had previously led India to win the 2024 T20 World Cup in June of last year and retired from that format post-final.
“We will see. Winning two ICC trophies as a team is a remarkable achievement, and going undefeated is the cherry on top. I’ve seen very few teams accomplish two tournaments without a loss. Our main focus was to prepare well and play against the opposition effectively. We capitalized on the conditions and secured the win. Future plans? There’s no future plan; whatever is happening will keep happening.”
During the post-match presentation, Rohit praised KL Rahul’s composure during a challenging chase. Rahul remained not out at 34 off 33 balls under tough batting conditions and admitted he was “nervous” towards the end of India’s pursuit of 252 runs.
“Once again, a very strong mindset,” Rohit remarked about Rahul. “He never lets the pressure around him overwhelm him. This is one reason we wanted him in the middle phase—to help finish games. His experience and class bring a sense of calmness to his batting.
“Having Jadeja at No. 8 gives you the confidence to play more aggressively at the start with the new ball. If it works out, great. If not, we accept it. The most important thing is to be clear in my mind.”
Rohit Sharma
“He chooses the right shots under pressure, allowing other players around him to play more freely. For instance, Hardik [Pandya] came in and played some excellent shots in both matches, giving us the freedom we needed. Overall, the performance by all our batters throughout the tournament was exceptional.”
Rohit kickstarted India’s chase with an explosive 49 runs off 40 balls during the powerplay and partnered with Shubman Gill to add 105 runs for the opening wicket. He concluded his innings with 76 runs off 83 balls.
“It makes things much easier; it provides freedom,” Rohit noted, referring to India’s batting depth that allows him to take risks at the beginning. “That’s why we aimed for deep batting order as much as possible. Jadeja at No. 8 grants us the confidence to play a bit more aggressively up front. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, then that’s fine. Clarity in thought is paramount.”
Rohit also commended his spin bowlers for meeting expectations. India maintained their four-spin strategy in the last three games, starting with the last group game against New Zealand when they first introduced Varun Chakravarthy, who was not included in the preliminary squad of 15.
“Not just in this match, but from the start, our spinners especially faced high expectations on such pitches, yet they consistently delivered,” Rohit said. “We understand their strengths; bowling on these types of pitches worked to our benefit. Throughout the tournament, our bowling was notably consistent.”
Varun finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, claiming nine wickets in three innings at an average of 15.11 and an economy rate of 4.53. He did not participate in India’s initial group matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan but took 5 for 42 in his first chance, the third group match against New Zealand.
“He brings something unique to the table,” Rohit remarked. “On such pitches, we expect batters to perform differently, which makes him much more dangerous. Although he didn’t start in the tournament for us, when he played against New Zealand and took five wickets, we witnessed his remarkable skills. We aimed to maximize his capabilities, and he certainly delivered. His bowling quality is exceptional, and we’ve been fortunate to leverage it at various points.”