Rohit Sharma Test Retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. On May 7, 2025, the 38-year-old captain, fondly called ‘Hitman,’ announced his exit from Test cricket via Instagram, leaving fans heartbroken but proud. With 4,301 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, Rohit’s red-ball journey is a tale of grit, elegance, and leadership. His final Test, against Australia in Melbourne in December 2024, capped a career that saw him evolve from a middle-order batter to a prolific opener. As India gears up for a five-Test series in England, Shubman Gill emerges as a likely successor to his captaincy.
Rohit’s Test career began with a bang in 2013, scoring 177 on debut against West Indies at Eden Gardens, the second-highest by an Indian debutant. His graceful strokeplay, honed in Mumbai’s maidans, drew comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar. Yet, early inconsistencies plagued him. As a middle-order batter, he struggled, averaging just 22 before 2019. Critics questioned his shot selection and vulnerability to short balls. But in 2019, promoted to open under Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, Rohit found his groove, smashing three centuries in his first series as an opener, including a 176 and 127 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. His 212 in Ranchi, laced with 28 fours and 6 sixes, remains his highest score.
The Rohit Sharma Test Retirement wasn’t unexpected. A nightmarish 2024, with just 164 runs in eight Tests, including a dismal 36 in three Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches, saw him drop himself for the Sydney Test. “I have to be honest; I wasn’t hitting the ball well,” he admitted. Despite leading India to the 2023 World Test Championship final and series wins against England (4-1) and Australia (2-1), losses to New Zealand (0-3) and Australia (1-3) intensified scrutiny. Reports of selectors eyeing a new captain for England’s tour, starting June 20, likely nudged his decision. Yet, Rohit’s legacy transcends stats. His 91 Test sixes, tied with Virender Sehwag, and a record 13 sixes in a single Test showcase his flair.
Rohit’s journey wasn’t without struggle. Born in Nagpur to a modest Telugu-Marathi family, he joined a cricket camp in 1999, spotted by coach Dinesh Lad. Initially an off-spinner, a 2005 finger injury shifted his focus to batting. Early domestic success, including an unbeaten Ranji triple-hundred, marked him as a prodigy. But Test cricket tested his patience. Dropped after poor overseas tours, he clawed back through sheer will, reinventing himself as an opener. His captaincy, starting in 2022, won 12 of 24 Tests, with a 50% win rate, second only to Kohli. Teammates like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal hailed his dressing-room presence, while BCCI president Roger Binny praised his “calm assurance.”The Rohit Sharma Test Retirement closes a chapter for India’s golden generation, with Ravichandran Ashwin also retiring and questions looming over Virat Kohli’s future. Rohit’s 280-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin against South Africa in 2019 remains a Test record. As he continues in ODIs, leading India after the 2025 Champions Trophy win, his Test legacy—marked by 472 fours, 88 sixes, and a fearless mindset—will inspire. From a Mumbai teenager to a global icon, Rohit’s story is one of resilience, proving talent, when paired with heart, can conquer the toughest battles.