Tag: Rohit Sharma

India team stalwart Rohit Sharma has shed light on a funny incident that occurred during the high-stakes encounter between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Rohit, who led India to glory in the 2024 World Cup, commented on the hilarious moment that occurred during the toss between India and Pakistan in the group stage encounter.

The right-handed batter revealed that, due to the atmosphere on the ground and Ravi Shastri’s enthusiasm, he had forgotten about the coin he had in his pocket.

“I’ll tell you what is happening. Look at him. In the blue, it’s Rohit Sharma ready to punch. In the green, it’s ready to counterpunch. These all things were happening there, so obviously it’s fun,” Rohit recalled Ravi Shastri’s depiction before the coin toss.

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In the middle of everything, Ravi Shastri’s energy, and everything, I forgot the coin that I had for the toss,” he added.

 

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Afterwards, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, who was standing next to Rohit Sharma, reminded him about the coin used for the toss.

Additionally, Babar Azam also asked the match referee for the coin and later reminded Rohit that he had it.

For the unversed, India clinched their second T20 World Cup title in 2024, after defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling contest.

The Men in Blue defended the target of 176 runs despite South Africa being firm till the last few overs.

India batting icon Virat Kohli starred in the match, hitting 76 off 59 balls despite having been out of form throughout the tournament.

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India star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has explained the reason behind not captaining the Indian team in the five-match Test series against England.

While speaking during a recent interview, Bumrah disclosed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had approached him for the captaincy role.

“Before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI about my workloads going forward in a five-test match series,’ he said.

“I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back. I’ve talked to the surgeon as well, who’s always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads, Bumrah told Dinesh Karthik during the interview on Sky Sports.

The right-arm pacer deemed workload management as a key reason for not opting to captain Team India in the whites.

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‘So I did speak to him, and then we came to the conclusion that I have to be a little smarter. So then I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won’t be able to give all the Test matches in a five-test match series,” Bumrah added.

Jasprit Bumrah also emphasised a team-first approach, noting that it was not fair to lead in only two Test matches.

“Yes, the BCCI was looking at me for leadership. But then I had to say, no, that it’s not fair for the team as well, that, you know, a five-Test match series, three matches, somebody else is leading, two matches, somebody else is leading. It’s not fair to the team. And I always wanted to put the team first,” he concluded.

For the unversed, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill was handed the reins of the Indian team in the longest format with the upcoming series as his major assignment.

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Former India cricketer Yograj Singh criticised Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their Test retirements, stating that the baton has not been passed to Shubman Gill; rather, it has been thrown to him.

The unexpected retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have left a vacuum in the Indian team.

On May 7, Rohit Sharma called time on his Test career via a social media post.

“Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,” Rohit wrote.

After a week, India’s batting legend Virat Kohli also announced his retirement from Test cricket.

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“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” Virat Kohli said in a social media post.

Following the retirements, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Shubman Gill as Rohit’s successor in the longest format.

Now, Yograj Singh, father of former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh, expressed disappointment over the duo’s retirement.

“Virat and Rohit shouldn’t have retired from Tests. I told Rohit to get up at 5 AM and run for 20 km to keep himself fit. Virat and Rohit can still play for another 5 years in Test cricket. They should have played,” Yograj said.

“They should be there to see that the baton is passed to the youngsters. The baton has not been passed, it has been thrown to Gill,” he added.

He also lamented Yuvraj Singh’s retirement, stating that he could have become the Men in Blue’s if he had continued in international cricket.

“Even when Yuvraj was retiring I promised him that I will help him become India captain and that we will throw everybody out but he quit,” Yograj concluded.

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Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, calling it the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era. 

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed surprise that both players retired in a short span of time. He said that it would be a challenging time for Indian cricket.

“I didn’t have an idea both [Rohit and Kohli] would retire together,” Ashwin said. “This will be a testing time for Indian cricket, and I’ll say this is truly now the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era, he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin expressed confidence in fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership potential while stressing the pacer’s fitness.

“The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player.

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“He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity,” Ravichandran Ashwin remarked.

India is heading to England for a five-match Test series, and Ashwin stated that sudden retirements would certainly create a leadership vacuum.

“Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can’t buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat’s energy and Rohit’s composure will be missed,” said Ashwin.

For the unversed, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket in a short time.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who had earlier stepped away from T20Is after leading India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title, announced their decisions through an Instagram story.

The sudden retirements left India in a selection dilemma ahead of the five-match series in England, which kicks off at Headingley on June 20.

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, making it clear that as long as they are performing, their place in the Test side should not be questioned.

Following India’s 3-1 series defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, debates around the future of the veteran duo have resurfaced, particularly with a tough five-Test tour of England on the horizon, starting June 20 at Headingley.

However, Gambhir, speaking to Indian media on Tuesday, made his stance abundantly clear that only performance should be the defining factor in determining a player’s place in the team, not their age.

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“As long as they are performing, they deserve to be in the team,” Gautam Gambhir said.

“When a player begins or ends their career should be their own decision. No coach, selector, or even the BCCI should have the authority to decide that. If someone is performing at 40, they can play till 45. Who is stopping them?”

Gambhir, who took over the reins as head coach earlier this year, also reminded critics of Kohli and Rohit’s proven match-winning pedigree, especially in high-pressure tournaments like the Champions Trophy.

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He pointed out that players with such experience bring a different level of composure and value to the dressing room, especially in marquee series.

When pressed about squad selection for the England tour, Gautam Gambhir clarified the division of responsibilities, stating that the head coach does not get involved in picking the squad.

“A coach’s job is not to select the team. That responsibility lies with the selectors. My role begins once the squad is final — I focus on selecting the best playing XI for each match,” he added.

READ: Babar Azam crashes out of top 20 as Pakistan players slide in ICC Test rankings

India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed the reason for withdrawing from the Sydney Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Following the first Test of the five-match series, Rohit joined the team in the second Test. However, his place came under the spotlight after a string of low scores.

In addition, before the must-win final Test to retain the trophy, it was reported that Rohit Sharma would not be part of the team as he had decided to withdraw from the match.

Following the reports, speculations began making the rounds on social media about the decision and his future as India’s captain in the Test format.

Subsequently, Rohit Sharma missed the Sydney Test, which India lost as Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 3-1.

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While speaking during a podcast with former Australian captain Michael Clarke, Rohit Sharma mentioned that he didn’t want to remain in the lineup, especially since many of the other players were also struggling.

“In the last Test match in Sydney, I had to be honest with myself. I was not hitting the ball well. And I didn’t want to put myself there only because we had a lot of the other guys who were struggling as well,” he revealed.

“When you add yourself in there, it just becomes a little more… And we wanted Gill to play,” he added.

The top-order batter, however, stated that he and the Team India coach and selectors were not fully in agreement after he spoke with them about his decision.

“I was like, ‘Okay, if I’m not hitting the ball well, it’s right now.’ Things can change ten days later, five days later.”

“I spoke to the coach and the selector, who was there on the tour. They kind of agreed, not agreed. There was an argument around it,” Rohit Sharma stated.

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DUBAI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is narrowing the gap with Pakistan’s top batter Babar Azam to claim second in the ICC ODI rankings.

After bagging the Player of the Match award in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, Sharma climbed to third in the latest ODI rankings.

Rohit Sharma took charge of the chase against the Black Caps with a brilliant innings of 76 runs.

Indian opener Shubman Gill remains at the top of the ODI rankings after his good performances with the bat in the eight-team tournament.

Additionally, batting maestro Virat Kohli (fifth) experienced a decline in the rankings,  despite scoring 218 runs in the tournament.

The Champions Trophy final’s runner-up New Zealand players made a significant gain in the rankings.

The major gainer was Rachin Ravindra, who jumped 14 spots after being named the Player of the Tournament.

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Ravindra’s teammates Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips also make ground on the latest rankings for ODI batters. Mitchell moved up six places to the sixth position while Phillips jumped six spots to claim 24th position.

Fakhar Zaman and captain Mohammad Rizwan retained their 19th and 21st positions, respectively, among other Pakistan batters. Imam-ul-Haq dropped one place to 31st, while Saim Ayub climbed to 36th.

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand skipper jumped six spots to second position in the ICC ODI bowling rankings after his impressive performances with the ball in the Champions Trophy.

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana kept his top position in the ODI bowling rankings. New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell has made significant progress, rising 10 places to 18th.

Indian spinners made significant progress in the tournament. Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav jumped three spots to reach third place, having taken seven wickets.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja also moved up three positions to 10th place after achieving a five-wicket haul during India’s unbeaten run.

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India captain Rohit Sharma has put an end to speculation about his retirement from ODI cricket, making it clear that he is keeping all options open for the 2027 World Cup.

A day after leading India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the veteran batter dismissed reports of him stepping away from the 50-over format, stating that he would assess his form and fitness before making any decisions about his future.

“It’s very hard to say that right now, but I’m keeping all my options open. I want to see how well I’m playing,” Rohit Sharma said when asked about his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“Right now, I’m playing really, really well, and I’m enjoying everything I’m doing with this team. The team is enjoying my company as well, which is nice.

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“I can’t really say about 2027 because it’s too far, but I’m keeping all my options open.”

Following India’s Champions Trophy triumph, Rohit was quick to shut down rumors of an imminent retirement, reiterating his passion for the game and commitment to the team.

“As long as I’m enjoying the sport, as long as I’m happy playing and contributing to this team, I will continue. There’s a lot of pride involved, and with the way this team is performing, I don’t want to leave just yet,” he said.

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India captain Rohit Sharma, who led his team to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 glory, has etched his name among cricket’s greatest leaders, joining Pakistan’s legend Imran Khan in an exclusive club of captains.

India’s triumph over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final saw Rohit become only the fourth captain in history to win four major tournament titles in multi-team competitions.

Rohit now stands alongside legendary captains like Imran Khan, Ricky Ponting, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni—each boasting four major titles as captain.

Rohit Sharma’s Trophy Cabinet as Captain

• Asia Cup 2018
• Asia Cup 2023
• T20 World Cup 2024
• Champions Trophy 2025

Captains with Four Major Titles

Imran Khan (Pakistan)

• Austral-Asia Cup 1986
• Nehru Cup 1989
• Austral-Asia Cup 1990
• World Cup 1992

Ricky Ponting (Australia)

• World Cup 2003
• Champions Trophy 2006
• World Cup 2007
• Champions Trophy 2009

MS Dhoni (India)

• T20 World Cup 2007
• World Cup 2011
• Champions Trophy 2013
• T20 Asia Cup 2016

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Adding another milestone to his name, Rohit became just the fourth captain in history to win the Player of the Match award in an ICC final. He joins an exclusive list that includes:

• Clive Lloyd (CWC 1975, West Indies)
• Ricky Ponting (CWC 2003, Australia)
• MS Dhoni (CWC 2011, India)
• Rohit Sharma (CT 2025, India)

Moreover, Rohit is now only the second Indian captain, after Dhoni, to secure multiple ICC trophies, reinforcing his credentials as a leader who thrives in high-stakes tournaments.

Under his captaincy, India has been a dominant force in global tournaments, winning 23 out of 24 matches across the last three major ICC events.

This Champions Trophy victory also saw India clinch their third title in the tournament’s history, having previously won in 2002 and 2013—a record no other team has matched.

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Indian captain Rohit Sharma has firmly put to rest any speculation regarding his retirement from ODI cricket following his team’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand on Sunday.

Rohit, who played a crucial role in India’s third Champions Trophy triumph with a blistering 76 runs, made it clear that he has no intention of retiring from the 50-over format.

“I’m not retiring from this format… make sure no rumours are spread,” Rohit Sharma stated, putting an end to the swirling retirement rumours.

India’s victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 marks their second consecutive ICC tournament triumph, having won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 last year.

Rohit Sharma also spoke about the team’s strategic approach in Dubai, highlighting the importance of spinners in their success during the tournament.

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“When I learned that the tournament was going to be played in Dubai, we decided to select four spinners because the conditions here favour spin bowling. The pitch had been used enough, and in such conditions, spinners can become match-winners,” he explained.

Reflecting on the tense moments in the final, where India lost three early wickets, Rohit admitted that the situation created significant pressure.

“It was a tough phase. We needed a big partnership to stabilise the innings. Thankfully, we managed to recover and play our way back into the game,” he said.

Rohit also touched upon the disappointment of India’s loss in the ICC World Cup 2023 final against Australia in Ahmedabad, acknowledging the heartbreak but emphasizing the team’s remarkable achievements since then.

“The 2023 World Cup final, especially on home soil, is a regret. But when I look at our performances over the past three years—winning every match in the T20 World Cup, securing that trophy, and now claiming victory in the Champions Trophy—it shows how far we’ve come,” he concluded.

READ: Virat Kohli breaks silence on retirement after India’s Champions Trophy triumph