Rohit Sharma retires from Test Cricket, will continue in ODIs
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New Delhi: India captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, ending a significant chapter in his international career. While stepping away from the longest format, Rohit confirmed that he will continue to represent India in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
The announcement came through an Instagram story posted on Wednesday evening, where Rohit shared an image of his Test cap numbered 280 and wrote, "Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format."
Rohit's decision comes ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series in England, starting on June 20. His exit means the Indian team will be led by a new Test captain for the series, which also marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The 36-year-old had been under pressure following poor performances in recent Test series. He struggled in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he managed just 31 runs in five innings, averaging 6.20. He dropped himself from the playing XI for the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Before that, he had a disappointing run in the 3-0 home Test series loss to New Zealand, averaging only 15.16.
Sources indicate that Rohit's retirement had been anticipated for some time, despite his public assurance during a television interview at the Sydney Test that he was not planning to step away. "This was a development which had been in the making for a long time, despite him claiming during the TV interview in the Sydney Test that he wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. So, one can say that the writing was on the wall," said a source aware of the development to IANS. The selection of the Test squad for the England tour has reportedly been postponed by two weeks following the announcement.
Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket with 4,301 runs from 67 matches at an average of 40.57. His Test career began with a memorable debut century against the West Indies in Kolkata in 2013. He registered 12 centuries and 18 fifties in the format and led India in 24 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine.
In June 2024, Rohit had also stepped away from T20 Internationals after leading India to a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.
With Rohit stepping down from the Test format, Shubman Gill is now considered the front-runner to take over the captaincy. At 25, Gill has served as vice-captain in white-ball formats and is currently leading the Gujarat Titans, who top the IPL 2025 points table. With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to be available for all five Tests in England, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is expected to hand over the leadership reins to Gill as part of a generational shift in the Test side.
With IANS inputs
