India captain Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect.
Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket
On Thursday (May 7), Rohit wrote via an 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. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format."
Rohit debuted in Test cricket in 2013, scoring 177 against West Indies at Eden Gardens. He was appointed Test captain in 2022, taking over from Virat Kohli. Rohit bids goodbye to the longest format with 67 caps and over 4,000 runs to his name. He led India 24 times, winning 12 Tests.
His last series was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024, which ended 3-1 to Australia. Rohit's own form in those five Tests was poor, as he managed just 31 runs in five innings, and dropped himself for the final Test in Sydney.
Retirement follows reports of sacking
According to an Indian Express report, the Indian selectors were keen on going into the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, with the prospect of grooming a captain for the long term. Rohit's own recent performances put his place as skipper of the side in danger.
India will now need to appoint a new captain for the upcoming tour of England. Jasprit Bumrah is the current vice-captain, but voices are growing for Shubman Gill, a much younger candidate, to be the next in line. While the captaincy replacement will come from within the current group of players in and around the squad, there could be a chance for a youngster such as Sai Sudharsan to take Rohit's place as a batter.
The first Test begins on June 20, at Leeds, with the fifth Test set to run into the first week of August.
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