Dubai: Rohit Sharma is at a point in his career where retirement chatter seems to follow him everywhere he goes. He likely would have faced questions about it during the usual pre-match press conference before Sunday’s Champions Trophy final, but he decided to skip it and sent vice-captain Shubman Gill in his place.

“He hasn’t mentioned anything to me. We haven’t talked about it in the dressing room,” Gill said when asked before the New Zealand match. “I doubt Rohit is thinking about that right now. He’ll focus on it after the game.”

At 37, Rohit spent Saturday afternoon checking out the pitch and strategizing with head coach Gautam Gambhir. He then hit the nets at a nearby academy, working on his hitting skills. Recently, his net sessions have been all about clearing the inner field, just like he practiced on Friday evening. He had Washington Sundar bowl short of a good length so he could attack, preparing for the possibility of spinners like Michael Bracewell or Glenn Phillips coming in early.

The only bowler Rohit was cautious about was Varun Chakravarthy. In matches, he tends to show respect only to the toughest bowlers these days. It’s a shift for someone known for scoring big hundreds, but since taking over as captain in late 2021, he’s committed to giving the team strong starts.

This approach didn’t pay off right away; Rohit struggled in the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, he hit his stride in the 2023 ODI World Cup, leading India to the final with some explosive innings against the new ball. He continued that aggressive style in the 2024 T20 World Cup, leaving Mitchell Starc with a lasting memory of his onslaught during the Super Eights.

Rohit has brought his signature aggressive style to the Champions Trophy, racking up 104 runs over four innings. So, how do we gauge his impact? His strike rate of 107.21 is solid, but that's not the only thing to consider. In ODI cricket, the total runs scored are crucial too.

The experienced opener is averaging just 26 in Dubai, which is nearly half of his career average. Sunil Gavaskar believes that if Rohit allows himself 25-30 overs, he could dominate the game. He showcased this in the Cuttack ODI against England, where he batted for 29 overs, scoring 119 at a strike rate of 132. But with higher risks come lower chances of success. Rohit understands this and is ready to play it safe for the sake of his contributions when he finds his rhythm.

Take his dismissal against Pakistan, for instance. Rohit was in an aggressive mindset and wasn’t backing down. Shaheen Shah Afridi got him with a delivery that hit him on the pads, leading to his wicket. It was a brief innings, just 20 runs off 15 balls. In the previous match against Bangladesh, he navigated the Powerplay well, scoring 41 runs off 36 balls, which helped India get off to a good start in a low-scoring chase on a sluggish pitch.

By adopting a T20 mindset in ODI cricket, Rohit is paving a new path. If he can deliver a game-changing innings in a win for India, it will solidify his legacy as a powerhouse in limited-overs cricket, showing his team how to adapt and thrive in a format that’s facing challenges.

Rohit had to bide his time before becoming the captain of India, despite his impressive five IPL titles. Since stepping into the role, his captaincy has shone brightly. The upcoming Champions Trophy final will mark his fourth ICC event as captain, following the 2023 WTC, 2023 ODI WC, and 2024 T20 WC.

Rohit might already be pondering whether he has more to give. He could be reflecting on what else he wants to achieve. A victory could help him make that decision, just like last year's T20 World Cup win in the West Indies did.

“I wasn’t ready to retire from T20Is. But the situation came up where I thought this is the perfect moment for me, and there’s no better way to go out than by winning the cup,” he shared on that unforgettable day in Barbados.

In just 24 hours, we’ll find out if Rohit can add another title to his collection. If this turns out to be his last, it’s been an incredible journey.

Read Also: Virat Kohli's Legacy on the Line: A Champions Trophy Final to Remember

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!