Rohit Sharma has officially stepped down from Test cricket, announcing his retirement through an Instagram Story on Wednesday. The veteran Indian batter confirmed he will continue playing in the ODI format. This move follows his earlier retirement from T20 Internationals after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
In his post, Rohit expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play Test cricket, stating, “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 38-year-old concludes his red-ball career with an impressive record: 4301 runs in 67 Test matches, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties, averaging 40.57. He also led the Indian team to the final of the World Test Championship against Australia. Despite recent dips in form, notably in the home series against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Rohit remained a key figure in the side.
With Rohit stepping away from Tests, India will appoint a new captain for the upcoming five-match Test series in England. Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant are reportedly in contention for the role.
As per sources told by Mumbai Smachar, Shubman Gill is emerging as the leading candidate to succeed Rohit as Test captain. “Shubman Gill is being considered for captaincy. This marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle, and the selectors are focused on the future,” the source noted.