New Delhi: In a surprising move, Rohit Sharma announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, putting an end to all speculation about his future in the longest format of the game. The 38-year-old was India's most prolific Test batter in the second half of his career, scoring 4301 runs in 67 Tests with 12 hundreds and 18 half centuries at an average of 40.57.
"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," he wrote in his social media handle.
Rohit captained India to the World Test Championship final against Australia and faced criticism after a string of indifferent series, including a 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His decision comes on the heels of a particularly poor run of form, where he averaged just 6.63 in his last 11 Test innings, scoring only 73 runs.
"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," Rohit stated in his announcement, which he shared through his Instagram Story.
Rohit's retirement opens the door for a new captain ahead of India's five-Test series in England, which is set to begin on June 20, 2025. Possible candidates for the new Test captain include Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant.
After a disappointing tour of Australia earlier this year, where India lost two Tests, Rohit's leadership came under scrutiny. The team struggled, and he managed to cross the 50-run mark only once during that series, averaging just 10.93 across eight matches.
Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, had predicted that Rohit might end his Test innings if he continued to struggle. "I think Rohit obviously will get the opportunity to play in the next couple of matches, that’s for sure. But maybe at the end of it, if he hasn’t scored runs, my feeling is that he himself will take the call," Gavaskar said earlier this year.
Rohit made his Test debut in 2013 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and scored a century in his maiden appearance. Over the course of his career, he amassed 4,301 runs, including a career-best score of 212 against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019.
His retirement comes just a month before India is scheduled to tour England, where they will play five Tests. The selectors are expected to finalize the Test squad in the coming weeks, but with Rohit stepping down, the most pressing question for the Ajit Agarkar-led panel will be naming the next Test captain.
Rohit's decision to retire from Test cricket follows his earlier retirement from T20 Internationals after India’s T20 World Cup victory last year. He had recently led India to the Champions Trophy title in March 2025, but his struggles in the Test arena have raised questions about his future in the format.
As Rohit steps away from Test cricket, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence and a significant impact on Indian cricket. His contributions will be remembered, but the focus now shifts to who will fill the captaincy role and how the team will adapt to this change.
With Rohit’s retirement, India will need to quickly find a new leader for the upcoming series, and the cricketing world is watching closely to see who will take the reins as the team prepares for one of its most challenging tours.
As the IPL season continues, Rohit will still be seen leading the Mumbai Indians, but the question of his future in the Test format has now been definitively answered. The selectors and fans alike will be eager to see how India navigates this transition and who will emerge as the next captain of the Test side.
Rohit’s legacy in Test cricket is solidified, and as he moves forward in his career, he will still be a key player in the ODI format, representing India on the international stage.
