Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to retire after winning 2027 ODI World Cup, claims Yograj Singh
Published - 11 Mar 2025, 02:16 PM | Updated - 11 Mar 2025, 11:41 PM
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Yograj Singh, former Indian cricketer and father of legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, has strongly reacted to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s decision not to retire from ODI cricket after winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday (March 9).
Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand, many speculated that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might step away from ODI cricket after the tournament. However, Rohit made it clear that he’s not going anywhere after guiding India to another ICC title.
Yograj Singh praises Rohit Sharma for rejecting retirement talks
The 37-year-old captain led from the front in the CT 2025 Final, playing a crucial knock of 76 runs that set the tone for India’s four-wicket win over the Black Caps in Dubai. In a viral video shared on social media after the Men in Blue’s title triumph, Rohit Sharma was seen celebrating with Kohli.
Read Also: Virat Kohli left team hotel with Anushka Sharma immediately after CT 2025 triumph
In the same video, the Indian captain said that they are not going to retire anytime soon. Later, in the post-match press conference, Rohit clarified by saying, “I am not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure no rumors are spread moving forward.”
Despite facing criticism over his leadership following India’s Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia, Rohit has been exceptional in ODIs. Under his captaincy, India has dominated ICC events, winning 15 of their last 16 ODI matches, and the only setback came in the 2023 World Cup final.
Nobody can retire Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Yograj Singh
Additionally, Rohit also performed well in the recent ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he amassed 180 runs in five games at a stunning strike rate of 100. His attacking approach and composed leadership have once again proved his critics wrong.
Meanwhile, Yograj Singh praised Rohit’s decision not to call time on his ODI career. The former Indian cricketer boldly declared that neither Rohit nor Virat Kohli can be forced into retirement. He insisted that they should retire after winning the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Yograj Singh was quoted as saying by ANI, “The best thing is that Rohit Sharma said he is not retiring. Well done, my son. Nobody can retire Rohit and Virat. They should think about retirement after winning the 2027 ODI World Cup. I had said this before: India would win.”
You want to leave the team in a better place: Virat Kohli on retirement buzz
Earlier, Virat Kohli hinted at leaving the game only when Team India is in a stronger position for the future. Kohli had said after the CT 2025 final, “When you leave, you want to leave the team in a better place. I feel we’ve a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next 8 years.”
Notably, Kohli found his form with the bat in the recently concluded prestigious tournament, where he was among the top run scorers. The dashing right-hander finished the tournament with 218 runs in five games, and he will be next seen in action for the RCB in the upcoming IPL 2025.
