IND vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Will Rohit Sharma Retire If Team India Loses?

Dubai: The fate of Team India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, has become a topic of intense speculation as the team approaches the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, where they will face New Zealand. While India has had a remarkable journey to the final, with Rohit Sharma leading the team in every ICC tournament, the veteran cricketer's future hangs in the balance.

Rohit Sharma, nearing the age of 38, has been the driving force behind Team India’s success in ICC tournaments. From the World Test Championship decider to the Champions Trophy final, Rohit has steered India to the finals of every major ICC event. However, despite reaching the finals of the 50-over World Cup and the WTC, India’s failure to win these titles has led to doubts over the future of the Indian captain.

A recent report by Dainik Jagran has added fuel to the fire, claiming that Rohit Sharma might decide to retire if India loses the Champions Trophy 2025 final. With his age advancing and after already retiring from T20 Internationals, many believe that this could be his final appearance in an ICC tournament, especially considering his declining form in recent Test series. His performance in the Australia Test series, where he scored only 31 runs in three matches, has raised concerns.

Despite his underwhelming performance in the Champions Trophy so far, where he has failed to score big (with scores of 41, 20, 15, and 28), the destructive opener is due for a big knock. Rohit, known for his aggressive and fearless batting, is still considered crucial for India's chances in the final. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar, in an interaction with India Today, urged Rohit to spend more time at the crease. "If he bats for even 25 overs, India could reach 180-200. If only a couple of wickets are down, the total could easily cross 350. There has to be discretion in his aggressive approach to give himself a chance to bat for longer periods," Gavaskar remarked.

As the countdown to the final begins, the nation waits to see if Rohit Sharma can lead India to glory, or if the pressure of the occasion forces the cricketer to retire from international cricket, leaving behind a legacy that is both impressive and filled with questions about what could have been. Only time will tell if the 2025 Champions Trophy will be the perfect finale to a stellar career or the beginning of a new chapter for Rohit Sharma.