Rohit Sharma Announces Retirement From Test Cricket, Will Continue in ODIs
India captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram, confirming he will continue to represent India in the ODI format.
Rohit Sharma, one of India’s most prolific modern-day batters, announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7 through an Instagram story. The 38-year-old, who has been under scrutiny following a lean patch with the bat, confirmed that he will continue to play ODI cricket for India.
“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 wrote, alongside a photo of his Test cap.
The announcement came in the middle of the ongoing IPL 2025 season and a day after Rohit played for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans.
The timing of Rohit’s decision coincides with growing speculation over his role in the upcoming five-Test tour of England, scheduled to begin on June 20. According to India Today, the selectors had been considering a leadership change and were unsure about retaining Rohit as captain amid concerns over his form and fitness.
Potential candidates being discussed for Test captaincy include Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. Bumrah led India earlier this year during a two-match Test series in Australia when Rohit was on paternity leave.
Rohit’s Test form took a sharp dip over the 2024–25 season. He scored only 164 runs in eight matches, including a dismal 36 runs across three Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where India lost the series 1-3. His struggles with the bat, coupled with a string of tactical missteps, led to criticism of his leadership.
India’s home whitewash against New Zealand, followed by a poor outing in Australia, placed additional pressure on the veteran. He vacated and later reclaimed his opening spot, before eventually dropping himself from the XI in the series finale.
Rohit retires with 4,301 runs in 67 Test matches, including nine centuries. Initially inconsistent in the longest format, his promotion to opener in 2019 under Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri marked a turning point. He went on to become one of India’s most dependable openers across two World Test Championship cycles.
As captain, Rohit led India in 25 Tests, securing 12 wins and suffering nine losses.
Rohit is expected to continue playing ODIs until the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted in Africa. He had previously retired from T20Is after India’s World Cup win in 2024. His exit from Test cricket marks the end of an era, but it also paves the way for a new leadership core in Indian red-ball cricket.
The BCCI is now expected to announce a new Test captain ahead of the England series.
