Australia’s stand-in captain for the Champions Trophy, Steve Smith, declared his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs) on Wednesday, just hours after his team was knocked out of the prestigious ICC tournament with a four-wicket loss to India in Dubai.
Smith has opted to remain available for Test and T20I selection, possibly with an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where T20 cricket will make its debut.
The Australian batter informed his teammates of his decision following their semifinal defeat against India.
“It has been an incredible journey, and I’ve cherished every moment. I’ve experienced so many unforgettable moments and special memories. Winning two World Cups stands out as a major highlight, alongside the fantastic teammates who were part of the ride,” Smith was quoted in a Cricket Australia statement.
“With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, now is an ideal time for others to step in and start preparing. It feels like the right moment to step aside,” Smith added.
By the time the next ODI World Cup arrives in 2027, Smith will be 38, and age likely influenced his decision.
The star batter concludes his ODI career with 170 matches, making him Australia’s 16th-most-capped men’s player and the nation’s 12th-highest run-scorer in ODIs.
Smith led Australia in 64 ODIs, securing a winning percentage of 50%, including series triumphs over England and India in his debut year as full-time captain, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy victory, and a tri-series win against South Africa and the Windies in the Caribbean.
During the 2023-24 home summer, Smith guided Australia to a 3-0 series sweep over the Windies while standing in for Pat Cummins as captain.
He bows out of ODIs with 5,800 runs at an impressive average of 43.28, including 12 centuries. Among the 11 Australian cricketers with more ODI runs than him, only explosive openers David Warner and Adam Gilchrist have scored at a quicker rate than his career strike rate of 86.96.
Smith played a crucial role in Australia’s World Cup-winning campaigns in 2015—where he hit the winning boundary against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground—and in 2023, when Australia stunned hosts India in the final.
