Rohit Sharma on Wednesday officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an end to widespread speculation about his future in the format. The 38-year-old, who had become a mainstay in India’s red-ball setup in the latter half of his career, exits the format after playing 67 Tests and scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. His record includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.
Rohit’s tenure included leading India to the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia and steadying the team during key home series against New Zealand and in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
His retirement now paves the way for a new Test captain ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series in England. Contenders for the role reportedly include Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.
This decision came shortly after a report by The Indian Express, suggesting the selectors had planned to remove Rohit from Test captaincy due to concerns over form and performance, not age or seniority. Despite stepping away from Test cricket, Rohit Sharma is expected to continue playing a vital role in India’s ODI plans, especially with major white-ball tournaments on the horizon.