Marcus Stoinis Retires from ODIs Ahead of Champions Trophy

Australia's World Cup-winning all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has shockingly decided to retire from ODI cricket immediately. He will now focus only on T20Is. Marcus Stoinis was initially part of Australia's 15-man preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but his retirement has brought in the necessity of a replacement when the final squad is announced by February 12.

The all-rounder has just made his appearance in Durban Super Giants in the ongoing T20 league of South Africa and according to the reports he suffered from a mild hamstring strain while bowling. But the reason he didn’t want to play ODIs wasn’t because of the injury. Stoinis has decided to opt for T20 cricket in the latter part of his career whether it be for Australia or in franchise leagues which is the main reason why he decided to quit ODIs.

"Playing ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for every moment I’ve had in the green and gold. Representing my country at the highest level is something I’ll always cherish. This wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right time for me to step away from ODIs and fully focus on the next chapter of my career. I’ve got a fantastic relationship with Ron (Australia men's team coach Andrew McDonald), and I’ve hugely appreciated his support. "I’ll be cheering the boys on in Pakistan," Stoinis said today as quoted by Cricket Australia.

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Marcus Stoinis ODI Legacy: A Look Back at His Career

Stoinis made his ODI debut against England in 2015 and has made 71 appearances, In 64 matches, he has scored 1,495 runs, batting an average of 27.09. He made his best score against New Zealand at Eden Park, and not only did he make an unbeaten 146, but he also took three wickets in the same game. With the ball, he claimed a total of 48 wickets in his ODI career. The 35-year-old's last ODI was against Pakistan in Perth on November 10, 2024.

Australia’s Preliminary 15-man Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

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