I am not retiring from ODI format soon, jubilant Rohit Sharma says

Dubai: India’s journey to their third Champions Trophy title was anything but easy, but in the final moments, the Men in Blue proved they were ready for the challenge. With New Zealand pushing them to the brink, it was a blend of aggressive leadership, timely contributions, and an unrelenting team spirit that sealed the deal on Sunday. As the final ball was bowled, India stood tall as champions once again.

It was not easy for the Men in Blue to cross the final hurdle against a resolute New Zealand, who were threatening to inflict a demoralising defeat on the two-time champions.

Chasing an under-par 252, India were on course for a convincing win with Rohit Sharma playing his aggressive role. When Rohit was not making runs, coach Gautam Gambhir said the skipper’s performance is not measured by the number of runs but by the impact he creates. In the final, Rohit scored big and made a significant impact on the outcome of the contest, earning the Player of the Match award.

During the drinks break, a rallying call from skipper Mitchell Santner received an immediate response from his troops. Superman Glenn Phillips pulled off another stunning catch to dismiss Shubman Gill and open the doors for New Zealand to trouble India. Useful knocks from Shreyas Iyer, whom Rohit hails as a silent hero, arrested the slide before KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja took India to a four-wicket triumph.

An euphoric skipper hailed the team’s consistency in ICC events, where the Men in Blue have lost just one match while winning two tournaments on a clean note.

“We lost the 2023 final, which is the only loss in the last three tournaments,” Rohit Sharma said. India have been on a roll in the last few years, making the 2023 final, winning the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“We played some good cricket throughout the tournament. To have the result our way is a great feeling.”

He went on to explain the logic behind his aggressive intent, which has been the hallmark of the final.

“I have played all these years in a different style, and now we are getting the results with this. We have to understand the nature of the surfaces, and I was clear about how I wanted to execute the first five-six overs,” he said about the start that actually put India on the path to victory. “The depth gives me the freedom, and it helps. With Jadeja coming in at 8, it gives you the confidence to go hard up front.”

Rohit’s future had been a hot topic since his lacklustre performance in Australia, where he stood down from the captaincy in Sydney, leading to speculation about the end of the road for the beleaguered skipper. However, Team India came back strongly in the series against England and continued in the Champions Trophy, winning their eighth straight match.

“I am not going to retire from this format. I want to make sure that no rumours are spread moving forward,” the 37-year-old said, putting an end to the speculation about his future.

Electing to bat first, Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 53 guided the Black Caps to 251 for seven in 50 overs. The capacity crowd, with a majority of Indian fans, was treated to high-class spin bowling, as India’s quartet — Varun Chakravarthy, Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav — pulled New Zealand back after a blazing start in the first 10 overs.

New Zealand’s slide began when Kuldeep Yadav delivered a double blow by removing semi-final century-makers Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson from the previous match.

While Rohit Sharma put an end to the retirement talk, Virat Kohli, who missed out on a rare chase after being dismissed for one, made an open-ended statement after winning the Champions Trophy.

“It’s been amazing. We wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour. The amazing bunch of youngsters are stepping up and taking India in the right direction. I try to share my experience with these guys, tell them how I’ve played for so long. When you leave, you want to leave in a better position.”

A huge shout-out to the victorious team for extending their domination in all formats of the game. Rohit Sharma has become the second Indian captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni to win multiple ICC titles.

As the celebrations erupted and the trophy was lifted, it was clear that this victory was more than just a title — it marked a new chapter in Indian cricket. With young talent rising to the occasion and veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading the way, India’s reign in ICC tournaments continues. The Men in Blue have proven once again that when the stakes are high, they rise to the occasion, leaving an indelible mark on the history of world cricket. This victory, a testament to resilience and teamwork, reaffirms that India is a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.