India’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending a distinguished red-ball career that spanned more than a decade.
The 38-year-old opener shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday, writing, “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 debuted against the West Indies in November 2013 and went on to play 67 Tests, accumulating 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. His tally includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a career-best 212 against South Africa in Ranchi during the 2019 home series. He began his Test journey with a memorable 177 at Eden Gardens and ultimately finished as India’s 16th-highest run-scorer in the format.
Promoted to open the batting following the launch of the World Test Championship, Rohit found consistency at the top of the order. He amassed 2,716 WTC runs at 41.15, including nine centuries, and led India to the 2023 final at The Oval.
His prolific home record—2,535 runs at 51.73 with ten centuries—underscored his dominance on familiar pitches, even as he struggled to replicate that form consistently abroad.
As a captain, Rohit led India in 24 Tests, winning 12, losing nine and drawing three. His tenure included guiding the side to the inaugural WTC final, though recent tours fell short of expectations. India’s 3–0 home whitewash by New Zealand and 3–1 defeat in Australia saw the team miss out on the 2025 WTC final and sparked criticism of his leadership in the longest format.
The Test retirement announcement prompted tributes from across the cricketing world. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised Rohit’s legacy as a “super captain,” while Anil Kumble lauded his transformation “from a free-flowing opener to a composed captain.” South African great AB de Villiers called his career “legendary,” and teammate Shikhar Dhawan reminded fans that “the whites are off, but life’s got a new Test lined up.” Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara and rising star Tilak Varma also paid heartfelt respects, and the International Cricket Council acknowledged the end of a “memorable chapter in whites.”
Rohit’s numbers tell a story of adaptation and resilience: a stellar debut and slow early years, followed by a renaissance as an opener and WTC stalwart. His struggles overseas—1,644 runs at 31.01 outside India—contrast with home heroics, yet his overall impact on India’s red-ball fortunes cannot be overstated. As he steps away from Tests, Rohit remains available for One Day Internationals, where his experience and prolific scoring will continue to anchor India’s batting lineup.
With his retirement, Indian cricket bids farewell to one of its most elegant stroke-makers in whites. Rohit Sharma leaves behind a legacy of big centuries, bold leadership and a testament to the importance of reinvention at the highest level. He now turns his full attention to ODIs, where fans will look forward to many more “Hitman” fireworks.
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