Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has thrown his support behind Rohit Sharma, backing the Indian captain’s decision to continue playing ODI cricket. After India’s ICC Champions Trophy victory, speculation arose about Rohit possibly announcing his retirement. However, he put an end to all rumors by making it clear that he has no plans to step away from the game during the press conference. Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane on Venkatesh Iyer: "He Deserves That Price" Now, AB de Villiers has defended Rohit’s choice, saying that he still has plenty to contribute to Indian cricket. "Rohit Sharma has got no reason to retire. No reason to take any criticism whatsoever. His record speaks for himself. Not only that, but he has also sort of transformed his game," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. The former South African captain highlighted how Rohit’s approach in the powerplay has evolved over the years, particularly his improved strike rate. "If we have a look at his strike rate in the Powerplay, it was quite low for an opening batter but since 2022 his strike rate has risen to 115 in the first powerplay and that’s the difference between good and great. It’s transforming your own game and it never stops," he said. 'Rohit Sharma will go down as one of the best ODI captains' AB de Villiers also praised Rohit’s leadership, pointing out his impressive win percentage and suggesting that he will be remembered as one of the greatest ODI captains of all time. "Compared to other captains, look at Rohit’s win percentage -- it’s almost 74 per cent, which is substantially more than any other captain of the past. If he keeps going, he will go down as one of the best ODI captains of all time. Rohit has also said he is not retiring and has requested that the rumours be stopped spreading," he said. Apart from his leadership, de Villiers pointed out that Rohit’s batting performances have been another strong reason for him to continue playing. "Why would he retire? With that kind of record not only as captain but also as a batter. That 76 in the final, giving India a fantastic start, laying the foundation for success and leading from the front when the pressure was at its peak," de Villiers added. Rohit Sharma was India's top scorer in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy against New Zealand. Currently, he is the 10th player to surpass 11,000 runs in ODIs and the fourth Indian to achieve this milestone. He is also expected to surpass Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 11,363 runs in the near future.