On May 7, Rohit Sharma, the Test captain of India, declared his retirement from the longest format of cricket, thereby concluding a remarkable career in red-ball cricket. The 38-year-old made this announcement on Instagram, expressing gratitude to his fans and reflecting on his experiences in Test matches. He stated, ‘It has been a tremendous privilege to represent my country in whites,’ alongside a photograph of his Test cap. He also assured that he would continue to play for India in One Day Internationals. This decision comes shortly before India’s Test series in England, leading to discussions about who might succeed him as captain. The senior selection committee had been contemplating a leadership change ahead of the series, which is scheduled to commence on June 20, with names like Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant being considered as potential candidates. Rohit’s announcement follows a challenging 2024–25 season, during which both his performance and captaincy were under intense scrutiny. He retires with a total of 4,301 runs from 67 Test matches, which includes 12 centuries, 18 fifties, and a highest score of 212 against South Africa in 2019. Although he is stepping back from Test cricket, he has reiterated his dedication to the ODI team of India.
