MUMBAI, May 7 — Ending months of speculation, Rohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket, closing a significant chapter in his two-decade-long career with the Indian national team.
The 38-year-old, who emerged as one of India’s most consistent Test batters in the latter half of his career, finishes with 4,301 runs in 67 matches, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties at an average of 40.57.
“Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket,” Rohit wrote in an Instagram post, accompanied by a picture of his Test cap.
“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.”
The announcement comes just over a year after Rohit retired from T20 Internationals following India’s World Cup triumph. With this, his international focus will now solely be on the 50-over format.
A commanding presence at the top of the order, Rohit also captained India to the ICC World Test Championship final in 2023.
However, recent series against New Zealand and Australia saw a dip in form, culminating in his omission from the playing XI during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.
At the time, he had dismissed retirement rumors, but Wednesday’s decision brings finality to his Test career.
India will now head into the upcoming five-Test series in England without their long-standing opener and captain.
The selectors are expected to name a new Test skipper soon, with Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant among the leading contenders.
Rohit’s retirement also comes amid unrelenting chatter around his alleged rift with head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Appointed in July last year, Gambhir has publicly pushed for a performance-first approach and a departure from what he termed the “star culture” in Indian cricket.
While both Rohit and Gambhir have denied any friction, the atmosphere around the leadership group has remained under scrutiny.
Despite the undercurrents, Rohit’s legacy as a Test cricketer is secure—particularly for his transformation into a dependable opener after years in the middle order.
He played a pivotal role in India’s dominance at home, including standout performances during the 2019 South Africa series and consistent contributions in the WTC cycle.
As India begins a new chapter in red-ball cricket, Rohit’s departure leaves both a void at the top and a legacy of adaptability, grit, and leadership.
