Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers has opened up about whether Indian skipper Rohit Sharma should retire after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. AB de Villiers stated that the Indian captain has no reason to retire from ODIs, adding that he is one of the most successful ODI captains in history.
India secured the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final on March 9 in Dubai. Rohit Sharma scored 76 runs off 83 balls to help the team chase down the 252-run target. The 37-year-old batter also earned ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-winning knock.
He Will Go Down as One of the Best ODI Captains of All Time – AB de Villiers
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rohit confirmed that he is not retiring from ODIs. However, in an interview with Star Sports, he admitted that it is too soon to determine whether he will play in the 2027 World Cup. It remains uncertain if he will continue competing at the international level.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers lauded Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership. He stated that Rohit will be remembered as one of the greatest ODI captains. De Villiers urged people to stop spreading rumours about his future.
“Compared to other captains, look at Rohit’s win percentage, it’s almost 74%, which is substantially more than any other captain of the past. If he keeps going, he will go down as one of the best ODI captains of all time. Rohit has also said he is not retiring and has requested that rumours be stopped spreading,” said de Villiers.
Leading from the Front When the Pressure Was at Its Peak – AB de Villiers
The cricketer-turned-expert questioned why Rohit would consider retirement, given his impressive record as both a captain and a batter.
“Why would he retire? With that kind of record not only captain but also as a batter. That 76 in the final off 83 balls, giving India a fantastic start, laying the foundation for success and leading from the front when the pressure was at its peak,” he added.
Rohit Sharma Has Got No Reason to Retire – AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers said that Rohit Sharma has no reason to retire from ODIs. The former cricketer noted that Rohit has transformed as a batter in recent years.
“Rohit Sharma has got no reason to retire. No reason to take any criticism whatsoever. His record speaks for himself. Not only that, but he has also sort of transformed his game.”
“If we have a look at his strike rate in the powerplay it was quite low for an opening batter in the powerplay but since 2022 his strike rate has rose to 115 in the first powerplay and that’s the difference between good and great. It’s transforming your own game and it never stops. You have always something to learn and something to do better,” he added.
Rohit’s aggressive batting at the top has allowed the team to capitalize on the powerplay and set a strong platform for the middle order.
The 37-year-old holds the highest win percentage in ODI history and is now only the second Indian skipper to win multiple ICC trophies. He led India to the T20 World Cup title last year in the Caribbean islands and the United States of America.
Also read: ‘We would like to…’: ICC sends message to PCB amid CT final presentation ceremony controversy
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