Steve Smith Announces Retirement After Australia’s Loss In Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-final

Steve Smith has shockingly announced his retirement from ODI cricket with immediate effect after Australia lost to India in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 4 in Dubai. India defeated Australia in a close contest by 4 wickets and qualified for the final of the tournament.

Australia scored 264 runs after winning the toss, led by 61 runs from Alex Carey and 73 from Steve Smith. With three wickets, Mohammad Shami was India's standout bowler. India won by 4 wickets after Virat Kohli led the chase with 84 runs, Shreyas Iyer scored 45, and KL Rahul finished with 42*.

Smith, a leg-spinning all-rounder, made his ODI debut in 2010 against the West Indies. He later rose to become one of Australia's best ODI players, though. In 170 ODIs, he scored 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, including 35 fifties and 12 hundreds. At an average of 34.67, Smith also claimed 28 wickets.

"It has been a great ride”- Steve Smith after ODI retirement

Despite filling in as captain for the Champions Trophy in Pat Cummins' absence, Smith, 35, told his teammates right away following Tuesday's defeat to India in Dubai that he had played his final ODI match and would not be joining Australia for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Smith conveyed his appreciation for the memories he made during his ODI career. He loved every second of it and called it an amazing experience. One of his greatest career accomplishments, according to the former captain of Australia, was winning two World Cups.

"It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it. There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight along with the many fantastic team-mates who shared the journey.

Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup so it feels like the right time to make way. Test cricket remains a priority and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship final, the West Indies in the winter and then England at home. I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage,” Smith said in a statement.

The great Steve Smith has called time on a superb ODI career 👏 pic.twitter.com/jsKDmVSG1h

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) March 5, 2025

Steve Smith- one of the best ODI players Australia produced

He is not currently in Australia's T20I plans after being left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, but has stated that he would like to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympic Games in T20 cricket and remains available for selection if called upon.

Steve Smith had a key role in both the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup triumphs. He hit the winning runs in the final match against New Zealand at the MCG in 2015 and amassed five straight fifty-plus scores, including 105 in the victory against India in the semi-final.

Australia get a massive void to fill

He won Australia's ODI Player of the Year award in 2014–15 and 2020–21, the latter year in which he amassed three hundreds, including consecutive 62-ball masterclasses against India in three days at the SCG. He was also chosen in the ICC men's ODI team of the year in 2015.

From 2015 to 2025, Smith led Australia in 64 One-Day Internationals. Only Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, Allan Border, and Ricky Ponting have led Australia on more occasions, although Smith was the only one not to lead his country in a World Cup.

Also Read: BCCI Official To Visit Pakistan Before Champions Trophy 2025 Final