Rohit Sharma Reveals Why He Retired from T20 Internationals

Rohit Sharma, who captained India to a memorable triumph in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, has now opened up about the real reason behind his retirement from T20 internationals. Under his leadership, India lifted the trophy after a nail-biting final against South Africa, ending a 17-year drought for an ICC title. While the nation celebrated the historic win, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from the T20 format. A day later, Ravindra Jadeja also followed suit.

Nearly a year after that emotional farewell, Rohit shared insights during a recent interview on a YouTube channel. He revealed that his decision to retire had nothing to do with the tournament outcome. “Even if we hadn’t won the T20 World Cup, I would have still announced my retirement,” he said. “It’s important to give others a chance. Continuing further wouldn’t have been the right thing.”

However, Rohit admitted that stepping away wasn’t easy. “After winning, you feel confident, like you still have it in you—you’re performing and contributing. So then the question comes—why leave now?”

Reflecting on his journey, he added, “This position wasn’t handed to me. I worked extremely hard to get here. I’ve faced many challenges to reach this point. I know what I’ve gone through, so why give it up when you’re still delivering results?”

Looking Ahead: ODI Focus and Test Retirement

Now 38, Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket but continues to play in the One Day Internationals (ODIs). He is expected to lead India until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Under his captaincy, India won the 2025 Champions Trophy and reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they were defeated by Australia.

With his Test retirement, the selectors now face the task of appointing a new captain for the Indian Test team. An official announcement on this is expected soon.

Rohit Sharma’s legacy as one of India’s most successful captains continues to grow, as he shifts his focus to mentoring the next generation while contributing in the ODI format.

Team Maverick.