New Delhi: Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, drawing the curtain on a significant chapter of his international career.
The decision, which ends recent speculation about his future in the longest format, was made public on Wednesday.
“Hello everyone, I would just like to share, I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in ODI format,” Rohit wrote in a post.
Rohit, 38, has been one of India’s standout batters in Test cricket over the past decade, especially in the latter half of his career.
Making his debut in 2013, he played 67 Tests, scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties.
His final Test appearance came in December 2023, during the fourth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Rohit opted out of the fifth Test in Sydney following a series of low scores.
While his Test career began with flashes of brilliance in the middle order, it was his successful shift to opening that cemented his place in the side.
Rohit also served as India’s Test captain from 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli, and led the team in 24 matches, winning 12 and losing nine.
Under his leadership, India reached the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final, where they were defeated by Australia.
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Earlier reports had hinted that the BCCI was considering a change in Test leadership ahead of India’s tour of England, which added to the uncertainty around Rohit’s red-ball future.
His form had dipped during home series against New Zealand and Bangladesh, and continued into the away tour of Australia, where India lost six of eight Tests during that phase.
Having already stepped away from T20 Internationals after last year’s World Cup, Rohit will now focus solely on the One Day International format, where he continues to be a mainstay of the Indian side.
