Questions about Rohit Sharma’s future continue to be discussed by fans and experts, even after the Indian captain led the team to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final with a victory over Australia.
During the post-match press conference, when India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about how long Rohit Sharma would continue to play for the national team after the Champions Trophy, Gambhir avoided the question. Instead, he praised the captain for setting an aggressive tone from the beginning.
While Gambhir didn’t clarify Rohit’s international future, he confirmed that Rohit’s ‘impact’ is the basis for evaluation, not just ‘numbers’. Although it’s understandable that the coach didn’t want to confirm Rohit’s future before the Champions Trophy final, his complete avoidance of the question could suggest that plans are already being made.
Reporter: ‘Tell me about Rohit, his current form, and how much longer do you think he will play cricket?’
Gambhir responded, ‘Look, the Champions Trophy final is coming up. What can I say before that? When your captain bats with such aggression, it sends a positive message to the dressing room that we aim to be fearless. We evaluate players based on impact, not just runs. Journalists and experts might focus on numbers and averages, but as a coach and team, we prioritize impact. If the captain leads from the front, there’s nothing better for the team.’
In the match against Australia, Rohit achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first captain in cricket history to reach the finals of all ICC tournaments. India’s victory in the Champions Trophy semi-final marked their fifth final appearance, more than any other team.
Since Rohit became the full-time captain in February 2022, India has broken numerous records. Within three years, India has reached the finals of every ICC tournament, a feat unmatched by any other captain. This includes the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 (won), ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, ICC World Test Championship 2023, and ICC Champions Trophy.
In the current tournament, Rohit has consistently delivered crucial runs in the powerplay, playing aggressively in the first ten overs to take advantage of favorable batting conditions. In four matches, he has scored 104 runs at an average of 26.00 and a strike rate of 107.21, with a top score of 41. In the match against Australia, he scored 28 runs off 29 balls, including three fours and a six.
