ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit’s future uncertain ahead of Champions Trophy final, Shubman provides clarity
Xtra Time Web Desk: As India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 final, speculation is mounting over captain Rohit Sharma’s international future. Many believe the 37-year-old could bid farewell to international cricket after the summit clash. However, on the eve of the final, vice-captain Shubman Gill dismissed any such claims, stating that neither he nor the team had received any communication from Rohit regarding a potential retirement.
Gill, who has forged a strong opening partnership with Rohit in ODIs, emphasized that the skipper is solely focused on securing the Champions Trophy title for India.
“All our discussions have been about winning the final. The team and I have not been informed about any decision regarding Rohit Bhai’s future,” Gill told reporters.
He further stated, “Rohit Bhai is not thinking about it at the moment. I believe he will decide after the final, but within the team setup, there has been no talk about it.”
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Rohit Sharma’s recent form and past speculations
Rohit’s international future became a topic of debate after he voluntarily sat out the Sydney Test against Australia due to poor form. However, he silenced critics with a century (119) in the second ODI against England, regaining momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy. While he hasn’t registered a big score in the tournament, his aggressive starts in the powerplay have been crucial for India.
Earlier, a Dainik Jagran report suggested that Rohit might retire if India loses the Champions Trophy final to New Zealand. Even if India wins, the report stated that his future remains uncertain.
During the controversy surrounding his absence from the Sydney Test, Rohit had previously clarified his stance, saying, “The decision is not to retire. I’m not stepping aside as captain. I chose to miss this Test because I wasn’t scoring runs, but that doesn’t mean I won’t return stronger.”
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Who could succeed Rohit as ODI captain?
Should Rohit step away from ODIs, the Indian team will need a new leader. Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are the frontrunners for the captaincy role.
With India on the brink of another ICC title, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma—not just for his leadership in the final but also for the decision that may follow.
