Rohit Sharma Announces Retirement from Test Cricket
India's captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, May 7th, 2025, bringing an end to his career in the longest format of the game. The announcement followed recent media reports suggesting he was likely to be replaced as Test captain ahead of the upcoming series against England, and comes after a challenging period of form with the bat.
Announcement and Context
Sharma confirmed his decision via a brief message posted on his Instagram Story. "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," the statement read, accompanied by an image of the Team India Test cap. While retiring from Tests, Sharma is expected to continue representing India in ODI cricket, as indicated in the user's prompt headline context.
This decision follows a difficult run for Sharma in Test matches, particularly highlighted during India's tour of Australia earlier in the year. In his last 11 Test innings, he averaged just 6.63, accumulating only 73 runs. His final innings saw him score nine runs from 40 deliveries during an unsuccessful run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Views and Future
Sharma's struggles had led to speculation about his future in the format. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar had previously suggested that Sharma, being a conscientious cricketer, might choose to step down himself if his lack of runs continued, rather than becoming a burden on the team. While Sharma has now made that decision regarding his playing career in Tests, the question of future Test captaincy for India remains open following the initial reports of his potential removal from the role.
Rohit Sharma's retirement marks the conclusion of a significant Test career for India. While his leadership and batting prowess brought considerable success, his recent dip in form appears to have contributed to this decision, closing a chapter on his journey in white-ball cricket while his contributions in limited-overs formats continue.
