Image: Will Steve Smith return to cricket after leaving ODIs? / © Hindustan Times
For the 2025 cricket season, Steve Smith has announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs) after Australia’s exit from the Champions Trophy semifinals against India. Smith, who top-scored with 77 runs in that match, has now shifted his focus entirely to Test cricket.
The 35-year-old batting star has amassed over 17,000 international runs, including 10,271 runs in 116 Tests. Reports suggest that Smith aims to continue playing Tests until at least the 2027 Ashes in England, where he would be 38 years old.
Despite stepping away from ODIs, Smith remains open to playing franchise T20 cricket and is still available for Australia’s T20 Internationals. He went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, which allows him additional rest before Australia’s upcoming Test assignments. His next challenge will be the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa at Lord’s from June 11-15, followed by a Test series in the West Indies starting June 25.
Later in the year, he will also prepare for the home Ashes series, beginning November 21 in Perth. Smith’s manager, Warren Craig, confirmed that the cricketer has no immediate plans to retire from Tests and is still enjoying the longest format of the game.