xtratime Logo

Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma has firmly confirmed his retirement from T20I cricket, stating unequivocally that he will not return to the shortest format of the game. Sharma also subtly criticized the current trend of frequent retirement reversals in international cricket, expressing his determination to stick to his decision.

Rohit announced his retirement from T20I cricket following India's triumph in the T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and the USA in July. Both Rohit and Virat Kohli concluded their T20I careers after India secured the World Cup, defeating South Africa in a dramatic final in Barbados on June 29. Despite stepping away from T20Is, Rohit continues to lead in ODIs and Test matches.

Read More:

IND vs BAN: Gautam Gambhir slams pitch critics as Indian Test matches end in three days!

"Retirement has become a joke these days in world cricket, people announce retirement but then return to play just like that. Yes, it hasn't happened in India a lot. However, I have been observing players from other countries. They announce retirement but then return and play cricket. You don't get to understand whether someone has retired or not," Rohit Sharma said in an interaction with JioCinema.

"I am very clear. That was it. It was the perfect time for me to say goodbye to the format. I started playing this format for India, I made my debut in ODIs, but straightaway went on to play T20 World Cup in 2007. We won that. I have now won another World Cup," he added.

Read More:

Football mourns! Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci, Italian world cup star, passes away at 59

Rohit’s T20I career, spanning 17 years, saw him amass 4231 runs across 159 matches, including five centuries and 32 fifties. He led India to two T20 World Cup victories—first under MS Dhoni in 2007 and then as captain in 2024.

Rohit is expected to continue his IPL career, with speculation about his future with Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, he will lead India in the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19, kicking off a busy Test season that includes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and the Champions Trophy in early 2025.