Kohli and Rohit Sharma Retirement | Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Retire After Champions Trophy 2025 Final? Aakash Chopra Weighs In

Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Retire After Champions Trophy 2025 Final? Aakash Chopra Weighs In

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final is set to be an electrifying showdown as India takes on New Zealand in Dubai on March 9. However, beyond the excitement of the title clash, a bigger question looms over Indian cricket: Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bid farewell to ODI cricket after this tournament?

Speculation Over Retirement

Renowned cricket commentator Aakash Chopra has weighed in on this topic, expressing uncertainty over whether these two modern-day legends will retire from ODIs after the final. If they do, they will only have Test cricket left at the international level, marking a significant transition in their illustrious careers.

India stormed into the final with a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the semifinals. Kohli played a crucial role with a match-winning 84 off 98 balls, while Rohit contributed 28 runs from 29 balls. The final against New Zealand is expected to be a high-intensity clash, potentially the last time these stalwarts don the blue jersey in ODIs.

Aakash Chopra’s Perspective

Chopra, while discussing the duo’s future, emphasized that their decision would not be an easy one.

“It’s their decision. It won’t be easy. Kohli has performed exceptionally well with the bat in 2025, while Rohit’s performance has been average. But he can change that by scoring a hundred in the final.”

He also pointed out that their retirement from T20Is after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup was expected. However, the same clarity is missing when it comes to ODIs.

“If they retire from both T20Is and ODIs, only Test cricket will be left. Will they take that path? Nobody knows.”

The Road to the 2027 ODI World Cup

Another factor to consider is whether Kohli and Rohit are willing to push their careers till the 2027 ODI World Cup. Chopra highlighted the challenge of staying relevant in ODIs, especially after stepping away from T20Is.

“Two years is a long time, and without playing T20Is, it could feel even longer. However, with several ODIs scheduled in the next year, they will remain actively involved.”

At 36 and 37, the question of longevity in the 50-over format becomes crucial. Will they be able to maintain the same level of intensity and fitness for another three-year cycle?

Rohit Sharma’s Future as Captain

Reports suggest that BCCI’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar and newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir will discuss Rohit Sharma’s future after the Champions Trophy. There is speculation that Rohit could step down from captaincy or even retire from ODIs entirely.

According to a Times of India report, the BCCI has delayed announcing the new central contracts as they wait for Rohit’s final decision.

A BCCI source mentioned, “Rohit still believes he has some cricket left in him. He has been asked to communicate his future plans. While retiring is his decision, there will also be discussions around captaincy.”

Meanwhile, Kohli’s future in ODIs appears more stable, with no immediate concerns over his involvement in the format.

Performance in Champions Trophy 2025

So far in the tournament, Rohit Sharma has scored 104 runs in four innings at an average of 26.00, whereas Virat Kohli has amassed 217 runs at an impressive average of 72.33. Kohli has been in stellar form, showing why he remains India’s backbone in ODIs.

If Rohit scores big in the final, it could change the narrative around his future, but if he struggles again, the calls for a transition could grow louder.

Will BCCI Demote Kohli and Rohit in Contracts

Currently, both Kohli and Rohit are in the BCCI’s ‘A+’ category, which includes players who feature in all three formats. However, since they have retired from T20Is, there is speculation that they might be demoted to the ‘A’ category.

Another player in the same bracket, Ravindra Jadeja, has also retired from T20Is, making it interesting to see whether the board revises its contract structure to reflect these changes.

The Final Verdict

The Champions Trophy 2025 final could mark the end of an era for Indian cricket. Whether Kohli and Rohit decide to retire from ODIs remains uncertain, but their decision will undoubtedly have a massive impact on India’s future in the format.

As fans await the final showdown against New Zealand, the possibility of witnessing the last ODI match of these two icons only adds to the emotional intensity of the game.