Amidst all the retirement speculations, India's batting superstar Rohit Sharma has made it clear that he has no intentions to go away from the sport anytime soon. He stated that he wants to stay on top of the game as long as possible.
Rohit reached a new career pinnacle by claiming the world’s No.1 ODI batter ranking for the first time. the former India captain enjoyed a prolific 2025 season, appearing in all 14 of India’s One-Day Internationals and amassing 650 runs, bolstered by two centuries and four half-centuries. His ascent to the top of the rankings was cemented following a dominant performance in Australia this past October, where his clinical batting earned him the Player of the Series award.
Rohit Sharma on his ODI future
This resurgence served as a powerful response to critics who had questioned his longevity in the sport. Despite leading India to the ICC Champions Trophy title in his final stint as captain, Rohit was subsequently removed from the ODI leadership, casting a shadow of uncertainty over his international future. However, he silenced those doubts by finishing as the leading run-scorer in the challenging away series against Australia, proving his enduring value to the national side.
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The veteran opener carried that momentum into the home series against South Africa, where he continued to anchor the innings with two vital half-centuries. His commitment to the game remains high as he prepares to represent Mumbai in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy this week.
Mere ko abhi tak upar rehna hai: Rohit Sharma
During an event in Gurugram on December 21, Rohit directly addressed the public regarding his ODI future. While he acknowledged the speculation surrounding his eventual retirement, he delivered a clear and optimistic update: he intends to remain at the top level for as long as possible, showing no immediate signs of slowing down.
“Mera bhi life kuch aise he tha; start karna bahut difficult tha (My life was also like this; it was very difficult to start). But once I took the momentum, once I sat in the plane, vo plane ne jo altitude pakda hai vo abhi tak neeche nahi aaya hai (the altitude that the plane has caught has not come down yet). I think that is what matters, and I don’t want that plane to land so quickly now. Mere ko abhi tak upar rehna hai (I want to stay up till now)," Rohit said at the event.
“We all know, I am sure everybody has travelled. That is why I gave this example of a plane. When a plane reaches an altitude of 35,000-40,000, you feel nice and relaxed; we eat and we sleep. So that is what life is. Once you take that momentum, I think it’s important you stay, and then obviously landing is also important, but it depends on you when you want to land," he added.
Rohit will next be seen in action in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is slated to get underway from January 11.