Rohit Sharma May Retire If India Lose Champions Trophy 2025 Final; Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill in Contention for Captaincy

With India set to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, speculation is growing over Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket. A report from Dainik Jagran suggests that the Indian captain may retire from ODIs if India loses the final in Dubai on Sunday. However, if India wins, Rohit could continue playing in the format, though the captaincy may pass to a younger player likely Hardik Pandya or Shubman Gill.  

At 37, Rohit has already stepped away from T20Is following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. His next major assignment in Tests will be India’s tour of England in June 2025, while the next significant ODI event is the 2027 World Cup. With a long gap between tournaments, many believe the time is right for a leadership transition.  

Gavaskar’s Advice to Rohit: Build Longer Innings

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged Rohit to focus on playing longer innings instead of settling for quick but short-lived starts. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar stated that if Rohit bats for 25-30 overs, India could set massive targets of 350 or more.  

“He needs to strike a balance between aggression and discretion. If he stays at the crease longer, he can take the game away from the opposition,” Gavaskar said.  

In the ongoing Champions Trophy, Rohit’s highest score has been 41 against Bangladesh, while he has managed only 20, 15, and 28 in crucial matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia, respectively. With the final on the horizon, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma not just for his batting, but for a potential career-defining decision that could reshape Indian cricket.