March 5, 2025 – After Australia’s defeat against India in the semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, captain Steve Smith announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals (ODIs). While making the announcement, Smith stated that he would remain available for Test and T20 formats.
Read More: Australia Defeated by India in the First Semi-Final of Champions Trophy
He expressed hope that a young player would take his place for the 2027 World Cup, calling it a great opportunity to start preparing for the future.
Smith reflected on his ODI career, saying it had been an incredible journey, and he cherished every moment of it. He also mentioned that winning two World Cups with his teammates was a major achievement.
The former Australian captain reiterated that Test cricket would continue to be his top priority and expressed his eagerness to play in the World Test Championship final.
Australian Captain’s Reaction to Defeat Against India in Champions Trophy Semi-Final
Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith explained the reason behind their defeat against India in the Champions Trophy semi-final.
Steve Smith said that failing to set a target of over 300 runs while batting first against India had an impact on the result. He stated that their strategy was to give India a target exceeding 300 runs, but they were unable to do so.
The Australian captain further added that had they managed to score more than 300 runs as per their plan, the outcome could have been different. However, he emphasized that they will now focus on improving the team’s performance in the future.
Steve Smith also mentioned that losing a wicket on a full toss proved to be a decisive moment in the match. Additionally, he pointed out that the pitch in Dubai was slow, making batting difficult. He also highlighted that their squad included some new players who gained valuable experience playing in a major tournament.
It is worth noting that India defeated Australia in an ICC knockout match after 14 years. Australia had previously beaten India in three knockout matches since 2011.
Before Smith, England’s captain Jos Buttler had also stepped down from captaincy due to England’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy.
The English team lost all their matches in the tournament, including a shocking defeat to Afghanistan.
