Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket, to continue playing ODIs

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 8, 2025: India captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, May 07. Rohit shared an Instagram story to confirm his decision and said he will continue to represent India in ODI cricket. The announcement came as a surprise, arriving midway through the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, a day after Rohit played for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans at home.

"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 said in an Instagram story sharing a photo of his Test cap.

Rohit’s decision comes just hours after sources told India Today that the senior men’s cricket team selection committee was keen to appoint a new captain for the upcoming Test tour of England, starting on June 20. Sources also indicated that it remained to be seen whether Rohit would be willing to travel as a specialist batter for the five-Test series.

Rohit retired from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. He is expected to continue playing one-dayers until the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be played in Africa.

It appears Rohit has made his decision in the wake of the selectors’ stance. A new captain will be named for the much-anticipated tour, with Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant all in contention. Bumrah had previously led India in Rohit’s absence during two Tests in Australia earlier this year.

U-TURN BEFORE ENGLAND TOUR?

India Today had reported earlier this year that Rohit had contemplated retiring from Tests before the England tour. However, after the Champions Trophy triumph in February, Rohit held discussions with the BCCI top brass, expressing his desire to be given the opportunity to play the England tour. The BCCI was open to supporting his decision after India’s triumph.

But, Rohit’s decision put the selectors in a tough spot. The senior selection committee was not entirely sure of having Rohit, 38, to lead the Test team at the start of a new World Test Championship cycle. Rohit played a Ranji Trophy match after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but he failed with the bat for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir.

There was a legitimate concern about allowing a senior player to continue if his performances in the format are not up to standard. A dip in form could affect India’s performance at the start of the new cycle and damage the selectors’ reputation.

2024-25 SEASON HURT ROHIT’S REPUTATION

Rohit’s position as India’s Test captain and one of their senior batters remained unquestioned until the start of the 2024-25 home season. However, his form nosedived, and his captaincy came under scrutiny after India suffered a 0-3 series whitewash at home against New Zealand - their first in home conditions.

The scrutiny intensified when Rohit struggled for form and was exposed tactically during India’s 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. There was plenty of drama Down Under, as Rohit failed to lead India to a single victory. Jasprit Bumrah captained India to a series-opening win in Perth while Rohit was away on paternity leave. Upon his return, India appeared to lack sharpness under his leadership.

Rohit was also unable to cement his spot in the batting line-up. He vacated the opening position to allow KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to bat at the top in the second Test, only to return as opener in the fourth before dropping himself from the XI for the series finale.

Speaking to broadcasters midway through the fifth Test, Rohit clarified his decision, insisting it was not a signal of retirement. He expressed confidence that his form would improve when India toured England in June.

However, Rohit managed just 164 runs in eight matches during the 2024-25 season. He endured one of the leanest patches of his career, scoring only 36 runs across three Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit had been one of India’s leading run-scorers in Tests since he was promoted to open in 2019. Given the opportunity by the then leadership duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the move proved a masterstroke as Rohit became one of the most consistent openers across the World Test Championship cycles of 2019-21 and 2021-23. He had scored just three hundreds in his first six years as a Test cricketer but went on to notch nine in the following five.

Rohit ended his Test career with 4,301 runs in 67 matches. He captained India in 25 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine.