India captain Rohit Sharma says he is “not retiring” from ODI cricket after leading his team to a record third Champions Trophy title in Dubai.

India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final of the 50-over tournament after Rohit handed the team a quick start with his 76 as they chased down their target of 252 with six balls to spare.

Indian stalwarts Rohit (37) and Virat Kohli (36) had a lean run of form in India’s 3-1 Test defeat in Australia earlier this year and the pair came into the tournament with speculation swirling over their ODI retirements.

“I want to clarify that I am not going anywhere, I am not retiring from this format,” Rohit told reporters at the end of a long post-match press conference at the Dubai International Stadium.

He said a lot of rumours have been doing the rounds around his retirement, but he will stay on.

Rohit has led India to their second successive ICC title after the team lifted the T20 World Cup in Barbados last year.

Rohit, Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja all retired from the shorter format after the triumph.

India, under Rohit, ended runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup after they lost the final to Australia in Ahmedabad.

His 83-ball knock laced with seven fours and three sixes was Rohit’s first half-century in this tournament where India, who played all their matches in Dubai, were unbeaten in the five games they played.

India have dropped just one match in three ICC tournaments since the ODI World Cup where the home team came unbeaten into the final.

Rohit’s team remained unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, and extended the run in this Champions Trophy.

“It is a great milestone to have, honestly speaking,” Rohit said of the achievement. “And that speaks about the kind of team this is.

“So, it shows a lot of quality in the team, a lot of depth, a lot of understanding within the group, a lot of enjoyment, a lot of excitement. And that is how we want to play our cricket.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Champions Trophy final (India vs NZ)

India came into the eight-nation tournament with a 3-0 ODI sweep of England at home and have been the team to beat in white-ball cricket.

They top the team rankings in ODI and T20I cricket.

“One game India loses, or it goes here and there, and there is so much speculation,” said Rohit. “But the boys and the team have actually managed to put that aside and just focus on how to win games and how to enjoy the game.

“Representing India is not a joke. Everyone wants to represent India with a lot of integrity and a lot of pride as well.”

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Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed India captain Rohit Sharma after a fat-shaming post by an Indian politician.

Rohit’s India beat Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Tuesday in Dubai but a social media comment on the Indian captain’s body weight overshadowed the build-up.

Shama Mohamed, a spokeswoman for India’s opposition Congress party, posted on X: “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!.”

Mohamed came under fire for the post – later deleted – from media, pundits and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

“I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It’s not about that,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar spoke about how Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan had also been “vilified” for his weight issues, but said it was performances that mattered.

“I don’t think size has anything to do with it,” said Gavaskar. “It’s your mental strength, whether you can last the distance, that’s the most important thing. Bat well, bat for long, and score runs.”

Rohit had previously been ridiculed for his visible “paunch” in the IPL but the 37-year-old has ignored his critics.

The swashbuckling opener hit a quickfire 28 in the first semi-final as India started their chase of 265 against Australia before Virat Kohli set up victory with his 84.

REPORT: Kohli leads India to Champions Trophy final

Both Rohit and Kohli were recently criticised for their lack of runs in Test cricket and came into the 50-over tournament with retirement rumours swirling.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said that Rohit always sets the tone for India’s batting, irrespective of the runs he scores.

“If your captain bats with such a tempo, it just gives a very good signal to the dressing room that we want to be absolutely fearless and courageous,” Gambhir said when asked about Rohit’s form. “You evaluate from the runs. We evaluate from the impact. That’s the difference.”

India will meet either South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Dubai.

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Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan believes veteran duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still have what it takes to deliver for their country.

Kohli hit an unbeaten 100 on Sunday, his 51st ODI century, as India swept aside Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai to stand on the cusp of the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

Pakistan, who are hosting all of the games except those involving India, are on the brink of elimination after their second defeat of the tournament.

Rohit made a quickfire 20 at the top of the innings as India went after 242 for victory and Kohli took charge after the captain’s exit to steer the team home with 45 balls to spare.

Kohli (36) and Rohit (37) have struggled for form since retiring from T20Is after last year’s World Cup win, with speculation swirling that they could soon retire.

But Kohli rolled back the years with his first ODI century since November 2023.

“Virat standing on the crease, his presence is big. The opposition have fear in them,” said Dhawan, who is in Dubai as a tournament ambassador.

Kohli went past 14,000 ODI runs early in his innings, becoming only the third batsman to achieve the landmark after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Rohit struck form with a century in India’s 3-0 home sweep of England earlier this month and hit a 36-ball 41 in India’s opening win over Bangladesh.

“Recently Rohit scored an amazing century, but it’s not about a century or half-century,” said Dhawan, a swashbuckling opener who played his last ODI in 2022 and won the Champions Trophy in 2013.

“Today Rohit played a quick 20 runs, that also carries value. He created that fearless environment for the whole team,” he added. “He’s got a great impact in early overs in today’s cricket.

“Things have changed, so now it’s good to take that risk and play aerial shots. We used to see it only in T20 cricket but now we see it in 50-over cricket.

“The Pakistan batsmen did not play any aerial shots, but Rohit came and took that risk, which played in India’s favour.”

Pressed on the futures of Rohit and Kohli, Dhawan said: “They have a lot of cricket left in them.”

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who took a crucial 3-40 to peg back Pakistan, hailed Man of the Match Kohli.

“There is only one big player in the team and that is Virat bhai [brother], who played a brilliant innings,” Kuldeep said.

“Hope that I can continue performing well,” added the left-arm wrist spinner, who recently returned after hernia surgery.

“Obviously if you play good cricket, stick around with good players, and you know you have a good team with two senior players who are greats.”

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India captain Rohit Sharma insists his recent Test struggles are just part of the “ups and downs” of a long career as he looks to rediscover his form in three ODI series against England.

The two teams will begin the ODI series on Thursday in Nagpur with an eye on the upcoming 50-over Champions Trophy.

Rohit and former captain Virat Kohli, who both retired from T20Is following India’s World Cup win in the shortest format last year, join the ODI set-up after India beat the visitors 4-1 in the preceding T20I series.

Rohit and Kohli have been short on runs in Tests, with the captain scoring just 31 in three matches when India lost 3-1 in Australia.

“This is a different format, different time,” the 37-year-old Rohit told reporters.

“As cricketers there will be ups and downs and I have faced a lot in my career. This is nothing new to me. We know everyday is a fresh day, every series is a fresh series.

“It’s important that I focus on what is coming up and what lies ahead for me, look to try and start this series on a high.”

Both Rohit and 36-year-old Kohli have come under fire for their poor form, while youngsters Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube sparkled during the T20I series.

Rohit averaged less than 25 with the bat in 14 Tests in 2024 – his lowest ever average for a calendar year.

He left himself out for the final Test against Australia in Sydney, sparking speculation he could retire from the five-day game.

“How is this relevant that I talk about my future plans sitting here where there are three ODIs and a Champions Trophy coming in?” he said.

“The reports are going on for a number of years but I am not here to clarify those reports. My focus is on these games, we will see what happens afterwards.”

Kohli himself managed an average of just 24.52 last year as part of a wider slump in the five-day game since 2019.

He made his first appearance in domestic first-class cricket since 2012 for Delhi in an attempt to regain form last week but was dismissed for just six in his only innings.

Meanwhile, India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is racing against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy starting 19 February after he missed the final day’s play of the Sydney Test in Australia in January due to a back injury.

Rohit said an update on his recovery and return will be available once a report on his scans is received in about two days.

Mohammed Shami will lead India’s pace attack in the ODIs after recovering from a heel injury and participating in domestic cricket and the recent T20I series with mixed returns.

“He has not played cricket for a year-and-a-half. Don’t be quick to judge players,” Rohit said of Shami. “He has been playing cricket for the last 10-12 years and performed for the team. He bowled so well in the [2023] World Cup.

“If he doesn’t get the results in some domestic matches as expected then it doesn’t make him a bad bowler.”

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Out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma will lead India in the ODI home series against England and at next month’s Champions Trophy.

The 37-year-old Rohit and star batsman Virat Kohli (36) have both faced questions about their futures after poor form since India won the T20 World Cup last year.

Also in the squad is fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Rated as one of the best bowlers of his generation, Bumrah suffered a back niggle in the final game of the five-Test series in Australia, which India lost 3-1.

He is expected to be fit for India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said.

India have kept rookie Harshit Rana as back-up for Bumrah, who may not be ready for three ODIs against England beginning early next month.

Bumrah’s new-ball partner Mohammed Shami is making his comeback after a long injury layoff, along with wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been called up for the first time in ODIs.

The first ODI against England is on 6 February, before that India face England in five T20Is.

The Champions Trophy takes place in Pakistan and Dubai from 19 February with India placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

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India contemplated Test cricket without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Monday after the star duo again failed to fire in the bruising series defeat to Australia.

With out-of-form captain Rohit missing, the visitors went down by six wickets in the fifth and final Test on Sunday in Sydney to lose the series 3-1.

Fresh from a 3-0 home whitewash to New Zealand, the defeat sparked renewed debate in India about the future of the team and in particular two of its stalwarts.

The 37-year-old opening batsman Rohit, who missed the only India win of the series in the first Test because of the birth of his second child, managed 31 runs in three matches.

Thirty-six-year-old Kohli scored an unbeaten century in the first Test but otherwise had another underwhelming series by his sky-high standards.

Australia booked a meeting with South Africa in the World Test Championship final in June, after India lost out in the race with six Test losses in eight matches.

India’s next Test assignment is their tour to England in June-July, when the visitors will play five matches and selectors will have to make a call on Kohli and Rohit.

“I think the next eight to 10 days are crucial for Indian cricket to take a good, honest look at itself,” former captain Sunil Gavaskar told news channel India Today.

“Most importantly, the star culture has to end. Total commitment to Indian cricket is non-negotiable.

“We don’t need players who are partly here and partly elsewhere. It’s time to stop pampering anyone.”

Kohli skipped matches after the birth of his second child in February last year.

Apart from his century, Kohli scored 90 runs across eight innings.

Dubbed “King Kohli” for his prolific scoring, the batsman averaged above 54 before 2019, but from 2020 onwards his average has slipped to 30.72.

Kohli and Rohit have been criticised for not participating in domestic matches to improve their faltering form, a decision that irked many pundits including Gavaskar.

“The cricket board needs to stop acting like admirers and put their foot down,” the batting great said. “They must tell the players that Indian cricket comes first. It’s either a full commitment to Indian cricket or other priorities.”

Rohit, who had also been censured for his decision-making as skipper, said it was his choice to stand down for the decisive fifth Test.

He also insisted he was not retiring.

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar did not mince his words.

“When to retire is up to the player,” he wrote on social media. “But how long to play is up to the selectors.”

Jasprit Bumrah, the vice captain, would be the clear pick to replace Rohit as Test captain after the pace spearhead took 32 wickets in five Tests in Australia and led the team to victory in the first match in Perth.

Coach Gautam Gambhir, who received flak for keeping the media guessing in his pre-match press conference about whether Rohit would play in Sydney, appears to favour keeping the duo at his disposal.

“I can’t talk about the future of any player. It’s up to them as well,” Gambhir said. “They still have the hunger, they still have the passion, they are tough people and hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. Whatever they plan, they will plan in the best interest of the team.”

Kohli and Rohit both called time on their T20I careers last year soon after India won the World Cup in June.

Both are expected to play in the ODI Champions Trophy in Dubai and Pakistan in February-March.

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India captain Rohit Sharma says he stood down from the decisive ongoing fifth Australia Test because he was not in form but insisted he was not retiring.

The acclaimed opener has had a poor series, with critics suggesting his omission from the Test – with the visitors down 2-1 going into the match at the SCG – was the end of his red-ball career.

But the 37-year-old has hit back, telling Indian broadcaster Star Sports at the SCG: “I’m not going anywhere. This decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside from the game.”

Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child and has not looked fully engaged since, failing to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings.

Rohit, speaking in Hindi, said that he had told the coach and selectors that he was “not in form” and that for the critical final Test, the team needed “a player in form”.

His recent lacklustre performances come on the back of a similarly poor return during India’s 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand during October-November.

Rohit quit T20I cricket last year after lifting the World Cup.

Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah insisted at the coin toss on Friday that Rohit had “opted to rest” for the good of the team rather than being forced out.

Rohit on Saturday called Bumrah “absolute class”.

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A relentless Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc sliced through an India batting lineup missing Rohit Sharma in Sydney on Friday to put Australia in a commanding position after day one of the fifth and final Test.

The visitors were all out for 185 after Jasprit Bumrah – captaining the side with Rohit “rested” – sent his team in at a sold-out SCG.

Boland was the chief destroyer with 4-31 while Starc took 3-49.

In reply, Australia lost Usman Khawaja for two on the last ball before stumps with Bumrah doing the damage, leaving them at 9-1 with Sam Konstas on seven.

“It was disappointing losing a wicket on the last ball of the day but it’s a pretty good position after they won the toss,” said Boland.

“I felt like I bowled pretty good … a bit stiff still from Melbourne but happy with the way the day went.

“Hopefully the sun’s out and we can bat all day [on Saturday]. There’s still a nice covering of grass on the wicket and hopefully another good day for us tomorrow.”

None of the Indian batsmen fired, with kingpin Virat Kohli again falling cheaply while Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made a brilliant century in the previous Test at Melbourne, was out for a golden duck.

Kohli had a huge left-off on his first ball and finally departed for 17, following KL Rahul (4), Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) and Shubman Gill (20).

Rishabh Pant made a battling 40, but that was as good as it got for India.

Regular captain and opener Rohit was rested, India said, after failing to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings during the series, which Australia lead 2-1.

It was a significant move and could spell the end of the 37-year-old’s 67-match Test career.

Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw.

Fellow veteran Kohli (36) has similarly been under pressure since an unbeaten 100 in the first Test at Perth, with his inability to again build a big score set to intensify the scrutiny.

Rahul reverted to opener alongside Jaiswal, with Gill returning at three.

But the ploy backfired with Rahul out softly with Starc tempting him to clip a full delivery to Konstas at cover.

There were concerns ahead of the Test over star seamer Starc’s fitness but he showed no discomfort and routinely troubled the batsmen.

Boland came on after an opening barrage from Pat Cummins and took the big wicket of in-form Jaiswal in his first over, collected smartly at slip by debutant Beau Webster, in the side for the axed Mitchell Marsh.

The hosts were convinced Boland had Kohli out next ball.

The Indian star edged to Steve Smith at second slip and diving low to his right he got his hand under the ball and scooped it up for Marnus Labuschagne to complete the catch.

But in a big call by third umpire Joel Wilson, he ruled that part of the ball feathered the ground and Kohli survived.

India seemed destined to reach lunch without further loss, but Nathan Lyon drew an outside edge from Gill and Smith took the catch.

Australia tightened the screws when they returned with Kohli adding just five more before Boland struck again with a ball that nipped away, taking an edge to Webster at slip.

The ebullient Pant was criticised for throwing his wicket away in the fourth Test in Melbourne, which Australia won, and he was far more conservative this time.

Peppered with bouncers that repeatedly hit his body, he worked hard for 40 before Boland again weaved his magic.

Pant miscued a short ball with Cummins holding the catch at mid-on, then Boland sent Reddy packing on his next delivery to send the crowd wild.

Ravindra Jadeja made the most of being dropped twice to compile 26 before Starc trapped him lbw, with the tail briefly wagging before the end came.

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Rohit Sharma rose from humble beginnings to captain India but he was axed on Friday for the decisive fifth Test against Australia to nudge the “Hitman” closer to retirement.

Even before the out-of-form opening batsman was dropped for the crucial Sydney clash, Indian media had speculated that Rohit could retire from Test cricket after the series.

The 37-year-old quit T20I cricket last year after lifting the World Cup. He is yet to call time on his ODI career.

If this is it for Rohit in Tests – the team insisted he was “rested” – it would be an ignominious late chapter in the career of the Indian great.

As a youngster Rohit studied on a scholarship because his family was unable to afford monthly fees of a few dollars.

He overcame all odds to become a cricketing superstar, especially in the white-ball game, his feats including taking his country to World Cup glory in 2024.

He is also the only batsman to have scored three double-centuries in ODIs.

Prior to his drop-off in form, Rohit gave India real firepower at the top of the innings and his selfless approach allowed the rest of the batsmen to play freely.

But the man dubbed the “Hitman” for getting to big scores quickly in spectacular style failed to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings in Australia.

He had called his performances “disturbing” while there was also mounting criticism about his decisions as captain.

Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child, with Jasprit Bumrah assuming the captaincy and playing a starring role with the ball in a big India win.

With India trailing 2-1 in the series, vice-captain Bumrah was named to lead the team at the SCG as the visitors battle to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian media have noted with mocking that Rohit’s 31 runs in three Tests is only one more than the 30 wickets that Bumrah has racked up.

“Rohit, because of captaincy and reputation … managed to hang on longer than he should have,” the Times of India wrote.

Mark Waugh, the former Australia batsman, said during the fourth Test in Melbourne – which the hosts won by 184 runs – that it was time for Rohit to go.

“If I was selector, I’d say: Rohit Sharma, thank you for your service,” Waugh said.

Rohit was also way below his brilliant best in the 3-0 Test series whitewash at home to New Zealand in November.

Just months before that, he lifted the T20 World Cup in Barbados after India edged out South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final to finally deliver the cricket-crazy nation a global title again.

Rohit signed off as India’s highest scorer in the shortest format, plundering 4,231 runs including five centuries in 159 matches since his T20I debut in 2007.

A five-time IPL winner for the Mumbai Indians, Rohit took over the captaincy of the white-ball national team in 2021 from Virat Kohli.

A year later, Rohit became Test skipper too.

He left a lasting legacy in the shortest format, having featured in all nine editions of the T20 World Cup.

He was part of MS Dhoni’s winning team in the inaugural event in 2007, before clinching his second T20 crown 17 years later.

Rohit, who has been criticised for not having the athletic physique of some other players, has also amassed 10,709 runs at an average of over 49 in 262 ODIs.

But his Test record is less prolific – 4,301 runs and 12 centuries in 67 matches at an average just a shade over 40.

His recent shortcomings have not detracted from Rohit’s stature around the world.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lauded him as the “man who has changed the culture” of the India team – and a “genuine hero”.

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India captain Rohit Sharma admits his batting form is “disturbing” after a double failure in the 184-run fourth Test loss to Australia in Melbourne.

Rohit also highlighted the need for teammate Rishabh Pant to bat more sensibly after throwing his wicket away twice in the defeat, which leaves the tourists trailing 2-1 in the series.

Their batting will need to improve for the fifth and final Test starting in Sydney on Friday, which India must win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India’s highest run-scorers at the MCG were their two youngest players, continuing a bountiful series for both.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 84 made up more than half of India’s second innings of 155, complementing his first-innings knock of 82.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a fighting maiden century in the first innings.

Questions have arisen about the form and ongoing selection of 37-year-old Rohit and to a lesser degree, 36-year-old Virat Kohli.

Rohit struggled throughout the 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand in October-November and has failed to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings in Australia.

“A lot of the things I am trying to do are not falling in the place that I would want to,” Rohit said.

“Mentally, look, it is disturbing without a doubt if you’ve come here and you want to try to do successfully what you are supposed to.

“But as of now that is where it is and there are things that we as a team need to look at, and I personally need to look at as well.

“We will see what happens. There is still a game to go.”

Pant reached 28 and 30 in his two innings but was guilty of gifting his wicket with loose swipes which were caught in the outfield.

Rohit expected middle-order specialist Pant, renowned for an attack-first batting mentality, to fine-tune his approach in Sydney.

“It’s about him understanding and figuring out what is the right way to go about it,” Rohit said. “In the past, he’s given us a lot of success doing what he does.

“But it’s about the certain situation of the game where if there is a risk percentage, do you want to take those risks? Do you want to let the opposition back into the game?”

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