Rohit Sharma hasn't discussed retirement in dressing room: Shubman Gill

DUBAI: In the lead-up to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, there has been intense speculation in the media regarding captain Rohit Sharma's international future. There is talk that the 37-year-old might even announce his retirement after the summit clash. However, on Saturday, on the eve of the final, Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill clarified that there had been no communication or talk between Rohit and the team yet on this issue.
Gill, who has formed a formidable opening partnership with Rohit over the last few years in the ODIs, said Rohit is not focusing on anything other than winning the Champions Trophy at the moment. The 25-year-old said that all the talk in the Indian dressing room has been about how the side can down the Black Caps and win the Champions Trophy. “We have not discussed it. All the chatter and the discussion are about winning the match. And what we have to do to win the match, All our discussions have been about winning the final and the title. The team and I have not been told anything about this decision. Rohit Bhai would not be thinking about it at the moment. I think once the match ends tomorrow, he will make a decision. There is no talk about it within the setup," Gill told reporters.
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However, before could interpret his statement differently, he later clarified his statement on his captain by saying, “Till now, we have only been discussing winning the final and the Champions Trophy. He (Rohit) has not spoken to me or to the team about this decision. I don't think Rohit is thinking about it.”
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, Rohit has made scores of 41,20,15 and 28, aggregating 104 runs in four matches. Before the eight-team tournament, Rohit returned to form in the second ODI of the three-match series against England at Cuttack, scoring his 32dn ODI century (119).
‘This is the best batting line up I am part of’
Meanwhile, Gill said that feels privileged to be a part of India’s "best batting line-up," and credited the depth in the order, which he felt allowed the top three to go for their shots freely. “This is the best batting line up I am part of. Rohit is one of the best openers (in the world) and Virat, we need not tell about him. But our team has depth in batting and that allows the top order to bat with a bit more freedom,” he said.
The opener said that he was aware of the massive pressure on Team India to win the trophy but exuded confidence that the side will come up trumps unlike the 2023 ODI World Cup, which they lost to Australia in the final at Ahmedabad. “We are all excited for the final. Last time we could not win the 50 over World Cup but we are determined to win this time. There will be big match pressure. But whichever team deals with pressure will win the final. We just need to take it like any other match, and good teams will do that. We have played four matches here and done well, so there is no added pressure on us,” Gill said.
'We are hungry, but not desperate for title'
Gill said that India's triumph in the T20 World Cup in June last year in the West Indies, which ended a barren 11-year run of a World Cup trophy, had taken the pressure off his team and allowed them to play the big matches like Sunday's final without getting overwhelmed by the occasion.

"Sometimes once you get one title, I think that kind of breaks the jinx. It gives you the momentum, also you are not very desperate about getting the title. It's not good when desperation kicks in. Then it becomes hard to put the occasion out of the equation. In all these big matches, the players or the teams that can put aside the pressure and take the occasion out of the game have a better chance of winning. I think winning the title in 2024 doesn't mean that we are less hungry but I think it makes us more balanced that yes we've won an ICC title and we'll try to do our best to win this one," Gill explained.