Surprising Cricket Retirements of 2025: Key Players Bid Farewell
Unexpected Retirements in 2025
The cricketing landscape of 2025 has been shaken by the sudden retirements of several prominent players, leaving fans and analysts in disbelief. Notably, West Indies cricketer Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement from international cricket at just 29 years old. He is not alone in this decision, as other notable cricketers have also chosen to step away from the game. Here’s a look at some of the top players who have made this surprising announcement.
Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies star, has left fans stunned with his retirement announcement at the young age of 29. The former T20I captain recently participated in the Indian Premier League with the Lucknow Super Giants and shared his heartfelt decision on Instagram. Throughout his international career, Pooran has played 61 T20Is and 106 ODIs, accumulating over 4,000 runs across both formats.
Virat Kohli
Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli shocked the cricketing community by retiring from Test cricket in May 2025, just before the upcoming tour of England set to begin on June 20. Kohli had previously announced his retirement from T20Is in June 2024 after leading India to victory in the Men’s T20 World Cup. He will now focus solely on ODIs, having scored 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, also made headlines with his unexpected retirement from Test cricket, now opting to play only ODIs. The 38-year-old had previously retired from T20Is following the T20 World Cup victory in June. In his Test career, Sharma has played 67 matches, scoring 4,301 runs, which includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.
Heinrich Klaasen
South African wicket-keeper Heinrich Klaasen surprised many by announcing his retirement this month at the age of 33. He has decided to focus on family and franchise cricket, stepping away from international play. Klaasen's international career includes 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is.
Glenn Maxwell
Renowned for his prowess in ODIs, Glenn Maxwell declared his retirement from the format at 36 due to ongoing back issues and the necessity to manage his physical workload. Over his career, he has played 149 ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs, which features 4 centuries and 23 half-centuries.
Steve Smith
Australian cricket star Steve Smith announced his retirement from One Day Internationals following his team's exit from the Champions Trophy. Smith has participated in 170 ODI matches, amassing 5,800 runs, including 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries.