Rohit Sharma stands as one of the most gifted and accomplished cricketers of his generation. Known as “the Hitman”, his effortless timing and six-hitting prowess have made him a formidable force in limited-overs cricket where he holds the unique record of three ODI double centuries. His career, marked by incredible highs and a late but successful transition to a Test opener, has cemented his place as a modern-day legend.
However, his recent retirement from Test cricket has been mired in controversy. Speculation suggests that his decision was not entirely his own. Rumours emerged that the BCCI and the selection committee pressured him to retire after a string of poor performances, despite his desire to continue playing the longest format. The abruptness of the announcement, made via a casual social media post, fueled the controversy, leaving many question the circumstances and a seemingly unceremonious end to his red-ball career.
Now Jaydev Shah, a former manager of the Indian team, has shed light on Rohit Sharma’s retirement and also clarified whether Hitman retired as per his own will or forcefully.
Rohit Sharma’s decision to retire from Test cricket was not forced or influenced by any external pressure, according to Jaydev Shah who managed the Indian men’s team during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jaydev Shah explained that it was Rohit’s personal call, made in the interest of the team’s long-term development. This clears up doubts surrounding his retirement, as there had been speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may have pushed him toward it.
Jaydev Shah did confirm that Rohit Sharma was left out of the fifth Test in Sydney. Although at the time Rohit had suggested he stepped aside due to poor form, Shah noted that the board was looking ahead and didn’t see Rohit Sharma continuing effectively in Test cricket over the next two years. However according to Shah, Rohit himself was also thinking along the same lines and wanted to give younger players a chance in the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.
Speaking on a podcast, Jaydev Shah pointed out that Rohit Sharma had returned from paternity leave but wasn’t in the best batting form. After being dropped from the final Test, he went on to win the Champions Trophy, which reinforced his belief that he should focus more on white-ball cricket. Shah added that the BCCI was already in the process of reshaping the team and Rohit’s departure aligned with that goal.
Rohit Sharma did not announce his retirement immediately after the Australia series. He waited until May, just weeks before India’s squad was named for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. Jaydev Shah mentioned that with Rohit dealing with injuries which also caused him to miss a few IPL games, the decision to step away was a calculated one, made with the team’s future in mind. Jaydev Shah emphasised that a player of Rohit’s stature takes such decisions independently and this one came from his own assessment of the situation.
With Rohit Sharma stepping aside, Shubman Gill was named the Test captain for the England series. As it stands, India is trailing by 2-1 in the five-match series, with the final Test underway at The Oval in London.
