Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma’s surprise decision to retire from Test cricket midway through the IPL 2025 season has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, including within his own team. The announcement, made via social media on Wednesday evening, came while India and Mumbai Indians teammate Ajinkya Rahane was preparing to captain Kolkata Knight Riders in a key clash against Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens. Ajinkya Rahane, unaware of the development at the time, only learned about Rohit’s retirement during the post-match media interaction.
Clearly caught off guard, Ajinkya Rahane expressed his astonishment and extended his best wishes to Rohit Sharma, calling the news shocking and acknowledging the significant contributions Rohit Sharma had made in the longest format. He reflected on the veteran opener’s journey, noting how Rohit Sharma had successfully transitioned from a middle-order batter to a formidable presence at the top of the order, a move that defined the latter half of his Test career. Ajinkya Rahane praised Rohit Sharma’s fearless style and how it embodied the kind of freedom he encouraged in others on the team.
Rohit’s red-ball form had been under scrutiny recently, particularly after back-to-back Test series losses at home to New Zealand and Australia, which ultimately cost India a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final. According to reports, Rohit had been contemplating his future in Test cricket for some time and made up his mind after leading India to victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, a career high point that possibly served as a fitting bookend to his time in whites.
In his retirement post, Rohit conveyed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent India in Test cricket and confirmed his intention to continue playing One Day Internationals. The announcement, simple yet heartfelt, marked the end of an era for Indian Test cricket while hinting at continued involvement in the shorter formats.
Rohit Sharma wrote in his post, “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.”
The good thing is that we will still see him in ODIs & IPL. What is your reaction to Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement announcement?
