Home
India opener Rohit Sharma announced his Test retirement on Wednesday, May 7 2025, posting a story on his social media. The 38-year-old's decision came after a lot of speculation over his spot in India's upcoming five-Test match series against England. The Indian Express reported that his decision came after the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee decided to sack Rohit as India’s Test skipper for the upcoming England tour.
However, India's ODI World Cup 2011 winning star opener Virender Sehwag analysed the MI opener’s decision and felt it was a ‘good sign’.
“It's amazing, because I had also heard those things-like how he was preparing for the England tour, or during the Australia tour when he didn't play the last Test match, he was saying, "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. Don't pretend like I've retired” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz,
“But what might have happened during this time? What happened is probably this: when the selectors made their decision-maybe they thought, "We won't announce Rohit Sharma as the Test captain," or perhaps, "We won't even take him as a player" for the England tour. I'm sure the selectors would have spoken to him, told him what they were thinking, and then offered him some options.
“That's why, before the team was announced-before anything else was made public-Rohit Sharma announced his retirement. That's a good sign.”
Sehwag also hailed Rohit’s contribution to Indian cricket. “But who wouldn't miss a player like Rohit Sharma? Whether it's Test cricket, ODI cricket, or T20 cricket, he always provided full entertainment. Fans enjoyed watching his batting, and the records he's made are outstanding,” he said.
“Yes, there's always that feeling- he could have played a bit longer. He could have reached 100 Test matches, and only a few elite players have achieved that milestone. But he's made his decision, and that's fine. His career has been absolutely brilliant,” he added.
Rohit Sharma played his debut Test against the West Indies in 2013 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata and started his international red-ball career with centuries in the first two matches. Rohit finishes as India's 16th-highest run-getter in the longest format of the game.
Rohit led India in 24 Test matches, winning 12, losing nine, and drawing three, with a win percentage of exactly 50. Rohit Sharma-led India featured in the World Test Championship Final (WTC) 2023 in England, where Australia defeated the Men in Blue. However, Rohit's final stages of his red-ball career were marred by poor form and team results. Rohit's last Test outing came in Australia during the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
ADVERTISEMENT
