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May 9, 2025 | Mumbai, A new chapter in Rohit Sharma's international career has begun with his official retirement from Test cricket. The Indian captain will now focus only on ODIs as a result of this decision, which might lead to a final World Cup appearance in 2027.
Rohit's decision to walk away from the longest format isn't entirely unexpected. His recent struggles with the bat, particularly in the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, had drawn attention. Across four innings, Rohit could only muster scores of 3, 6, 10, and 3. He eventually dropped himself for the final Test in Sydney, where Jasprit Bumrah took over as stand-in captain. India lost the series 1-3, surrendering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in eight years.
Now with Tests out of the equation, Rohit is expected to channel his energy entirely into the ODI format. Having already retired from T20Is after India's title-winning campaign last year, the 36-year-old is eyeing a strong push toward the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
"Rohit's leadership in white-ball cricket has been a cornerstone for India, and with him focusing solely on ODIs, there's a real possibility of seeing him in one final World Cup," a senior BCCI official noted.
Rohit led India to the ODI World Cup final in 2023 and oversaw title wins in the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. With his strategic acumen and experience, India will be keen to maximize his presence over the next two years.
Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket with 4301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries. Despite modest early returns, his Test career saw a revival in 2019 when he was promoted to open the innings. His 529 runs in the home series against South Africa that year, including twin tons and a double century, redefined his role.
Over the next few years, Rohit notched several memorable innings: 127 at The Oval, 83 at Lord's, and 161 in Chennai, along with a gritty 120 against Australia in Nagpur in 2023. He was also a standout performer in the World Test Championship cycles, scoring 1094 runs at 60.77 in the first edition and 758 runs in the second.
However, his form dipped in the current cycle, with just 855 runs from 30 innings.
Rohit needed some time to establish himself in Test cricket after making his debut in 2013 during Sachin Tendulkar's final series, where he scored back-to-back hundreds. He averaged 39.60 in 27 games from 2013 to 2019. However, after he started opening frequently, his average shot up to 44.01 with 2685 runs in 37 Test matches.
He also retires as the most successful opener in the WTC format, with over 2600 runs.
