Steve Smith, the renowned Australian cricketer, has announced his immediate retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket following Australia’s semi-final defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy held in Dubai on Tuesday. He will, however, continue to participate in Test matches and T20 internationals.

The 35-year-old declared his retirement to his teammates right after the loss to India, marking the end of his ODI career. This decision means he will not be part of Australia’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, despite having served as captain for the Champions Trophy in the absence of Pat Cummins.

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In a statement reflecting on his career, Smith said, “It has been a great ride, and I have loved every minute of it. There have been so many amazing moments and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a significant highlight along with the fantastic teammates who shared this journey.”

Explaining his decision, Smith mentioned that it was the right time for new talents to emerge in the ODI format. “Now is a perfect opportunity for others to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to step aside,” he noted.

“Test cricket is still my main focus, and I’m looking forward to the World Test Championship final, the upcoming series against the West Indies, and then facing England at home. I believe I have much more to contribute in that arena,” he added.

Over the course of 170 ODIs for Australia, Smith scored 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, which included 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries, along with taking 28 wickets. Only five players have hit more than his 12 ODI centuries, and among those, only David Warner has a higher average.

Smith was a pivotal player in Australia’s World Cup-winning teams in both 2015 and 2023. During the 2015 tournament, he achieved five consecutive scores of fifty or more, including a notable 105 in the semi-final against India and an unbeaten 56 in the final against New Zealand at the MCG, where he also scored the match-winning runs. Additionally, Smith led the Australian ODI team in 64 matches from 2015 to 2025.

Despite facing questions about his future in international cricket in recent years, Smith has stated he is focusing on a series-by-series commitment in all formats. It remains to be seen if he will be available for the away series against India and England in 2027.

George Bailey, Smith’s former teammate and current selection chair, expressed full support for his retirement decision within the Australian cricket setup.

“We fully understand and support Steve’s choice to retire from ODI cricket. He has consistently indicated that he is approaching the remainder of his playing career on a series-by-series basis, a stance that Cricket Australia also endorses,” Bailey said.

“His batting record over 170 ODIs is exceptional, and retiring as a two-time World Cup winner solidifies his legacy as one of Australia’s great ODI players,” he added.

“From the National Selection Panel’s perspective, Steve is fully committed to Test cricket and remains a vital member and leader within that squad,” he concluded.

Currently, Smith is not part of Australia’s T20I plans after being omitted from the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, yet he has expressed a desire to continue playing T20 cricket, especially with the 2028 Olympic Games in mind.