Rohit Sharma clarifies T20I retirement decision: 'Age wasn't the deciding factor, I am capable of playing all formats'

India's batting powerhouse, Virat Kohli, joined Rohit Sharma in announcing his retirement from T20Is. The duo bid a perfect farewell to the format, with Rohit recently disclosing that his decision to retire wasn't because of his age. He clarified that he is still capable of playing all three formats with ease.

In an interview with the YouTube channel FITTR, the anchor asked Rohit if he had ever considered retiring from the game, suggesting that he may no longer feel “young.”

“Was there a time when you felt that you're not that young, and maybe it's time for me to put down the gloves?” the anchor asked.

Rohit was quick to dismiss the idea, explaining that his decision to step away from T20Is was driven by the abundance of talented players ready to take his place.

“No no no. The only reason I retired from T20Is was because I've had my time. I enjoyed playing the format. I played for 17 years, and I did well. When you win the World Cup... it was the best time for you to move on. It was time to move on and look after other things. There are a lot of good players who can do well for India,” said Rohit.

“So, that was not because I felt anything. I just felt it was the right time. I can still play all three formats easily. That's why I say that fitness is in your mind and how you train it. I believe everything is in the mind, I have a lot of self-belief because I know I can control my mind. It's not easy, but I know most of the times, I can do that. If you tell your body you're young, you can do that.”

Rohit Sharma continues to lead the Indian team in ODIs and Tests, and is currently in action against Bangladesh in a two-Test series. Rohit's upcoming captaincy assignments include a three-Test series against New Zealand and a blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Next year, Rohit could potentially lead India in two ICC tournaments; while the side will take part in the Champions Trophy, India are currently at the top of the World Test Championship table, and retaining the spot would mean the side will qualify for a third-straight final.