'Nobody Can Retire Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli': India Stalwarts Asked To Play Till 2027 ODI World Cup

'Nobody Can Retire Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli': India Stalwarts Asked To Play Till 2027 ODI World Cup

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 07:55 IST

The next ODI World Cup is still two years away, but the Indian team management will reportedly start planning for the marquee event soon.

Rohit Sharma (left) and Virat Kohli have won four ICC titles each now. (AFP Photo)

Rohit Sharma has set the record straight, once and for all, that he’s not quitting ODI cricket anytime soon. And he has earned the right to do so after guiding India to their second ICC title triumph in 10 months as he became the third Indian captain after Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni to win the Champions Trophy. The 37-year-old may not have set the stage alight in the group stage and the semifinal of the competition, but he seemed to have reserved his best for the all-important finale with a blistering half-century on a tricky Dubai pitch that formed the base of India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand last Sunday.

Rohit won player-of-the match award for his brilliant 83-ball 76 to help India chase down 252 in 49 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. And after celebrating the triumph with his India teammates and family members, the veteran of 273 ODIs who made his international debut in 2007, shut down the rumours around his future by announcing he’s not retiring.

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And former India cricketer Yograj Singh has praised Rohit for making the call. In fact, he wants both Rohit and Virat Kohli to continue playing ODI cricket till the 2027 world cup.

“The best thing is that Rohit Sharma said he is not retiring. Well done, my son. Nobody can retire Rohit and Virat. They should think about retirement after winning the 2027 ODI World Cup. I had said this before India would win," Yograj told news agency ANI.

By the time the next ODI World Cup gets underway, Rohit would have turned 40 and Kohli nearing 39.

Rohit though isn’t thinking too far ahead and is just focusing on his game and mindest.

“Right now, I am taking things as they come. It wouldn’t be fair for me to think too far ahead. At this moment, my focus is on playing well and maintaining the right mindset," Rohit said on JioHotstar.

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“I don’t want to draw any lines and say whether I will or won’t play in the 2027 World Cup. There’s no point in making such statements right now," he added.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 07:55 IST

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