Rohit Sharma Announces Retirement from Test Cricket Ahead of England Tour
Rohit Sharma's Surprising Retirement Announcement
In a shocking move, Rohit Sharma declared his retirement from Test cricket just before the announcement of India's squad for the upcoming Test series in England. After a 12-year career spanning 67 matches, this decision has left the cricket community in disbelief.
Captaincy Change and Speculations
Rohit's retirement comes on the heels of the BCCI selectors relieving him of his captaincy role, which has now been passed to Shubman Gill. This change was made public by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar during the squad announcement in Mumbai. Despite his desire to excel in the England series, the timing of his retirement raised eyebrows, especially since reports indicated that the selectors were looking towards the future and had asked Rohit to outline his plans post the 2025 Champions Trophy, which India won under his leadership.
Rumors of a Rift and Leadership Changes
Following India's victory in the Champions Trophy against New Zealand, there were indications that the BCCI selectors supported Rohit in leading the Test team against England. However, just weeks before the squad was revealed, he was dismissed from his captaincy. On the same day the news broke, Rohit took to Instagram to announce his retirement from red-ball cricket.
Last inning of Captain Rohit Sharma test career pic.twitter.com/LmDpcTQcHc
— ANKIT UPADHYAY (@I_AM_BRAHMAN_45) July 31, 2025
Speculation about a rift between Rohit and the BCCI intensified, particularly after his underwhelming performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he averaged just 6.20 with a total of 31 runs. The selectors seemed to be shifting focus towards a younger team, leading to Rohit's removal as captain and subsequent retirement.
Clarifying the Retirement Decision
Even two months after his retirement, discussions about a potential rift with the BCCI continue. Jaydev Shah, who managed the Indian team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, addressed these rumors on a podcast. He clarified that Rohit chose to retire to pave the way for younger talent, emphasizing his desire to concentrate on ODIs as he nears the end of his career.
"He had a baby, he came back, and he couldn’t make runs. He was out of form and dropped from the last Test, but then he won the Champions Trophy," Shah explained.
"I think he felt it was time to focus on white-ball cricket and give opportunities to younger players. The board was also looking to prepare for the next championship cycle, which is crucial for team development."
"It was Rohit's own decision to retire from Test cricket. Such big decisions are taken by big people like Rohit themselves. Rohit wanted new teams to play in the new WTC cycle and give opportunities to young players." - Jaydev Shah
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) July 31, 2025
Future Prospects for Rohit Sharma
Rohit has already stepped away from T20 internationals after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup against South Africa last year. With his retirement from both Tests and T20s, he is now focused solely on ODIs, with the 2027 World Cup potentially marking his final international appearance.
Jaydev Shah noted that Rohit's fitness issues may have influenced his decision to retire from Test cricket, stating, "It didn’t seem like Rohit could take it for two more years. He also had his injury; he didn’t play a couple of IPL matches because of that either."
Rohit is expected to return to international cricket when India faces Australia in a three-match ODI series scheduled for October.