In a surprising move, Team India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from red-ball cricket, effective immediately. The 38-year-old cricketer made the announcement through an Instagram story on Wednesday, putting an end to his illustrious Test career.
“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,” wrote Sharma.
A Stellar Test Career Comes to an End
Rohit Sharma leaves behind an impressive legacy in Test cricket. In 67 Test matches, he scored 4,301 runs, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, at an average of 40.57. He became one of India’s most dependable batters in the latter half of his Test career.
He also led India to the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia and captained the team in crucial series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and matches against New Zealand.
Context Behind the Announcement
The announcement comes shortly after speculation arose regarding Sharma’s future with the Indian cricket team, especially following his retirement from T20 internationals. Adding fuel to the fire were reports suggesting that the BCCI selectors were considering a change in Test leadership.
Sharma’s decision to step away from Test cricket comes at a time when he has recently led India to two ICC trophy wins in a single year, solidifying his legacy as one of the country’s most successful captains.
What’s Next for Rohit?
While he has hung up his boots in Test and T20 formats, Rohit Sharma confirmed that he will continue to play in the ODI format for India.
