India captain Rohit Sharma announces Test retirement

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Taking to Instagram, Rohit shared: “Hello everyone, I would 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.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a statement that while Rohit is calling it quits to the longest format of the career, he will continue to feature in the ODI format for India.

"Mr. Rohit Sharma’s impact on Indian cricket transcends records and statistics. He brought a sense of calm and assurance to the team – both as a player and as a captain," BCCI President Roger Binny was quoted in the BCCI statement.

"Indian cricket has been fortunate to have a figure like Rohit – someone who upheld the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship. He leaves behind not just a remarkable playing record, but a culture of discipline and selflessness that will inspire future generations."

The 38-year-old, who was appointed as the captain in the longest format in 2022, led India to the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia.

Rohit's decision to retire comes on the back of a dismal five-Test series against Australia, where the experienced campaigner only scored 31 runs from three Tests.

In the final Test of the series, Rohit 'opted out' of the playing XI owing to his lean patch, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah taking the reins in his absence.

Tributes for Rohit flowed in quickly, with many former and current teammates showing their appreciation.

Having made his debut in 2013, Rohit featured in 67 Tests for India, scoring 4301 runs at an average of 40.6, which includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.

The batter had a remarkable debut series, adding 288 runs against the West Indies. Despite this start, Rohit struggled to cement his place in the Test setup initially before eventually becoming the side's go-to opener in 2019.

Among his major highlights in a decade-long career in whites were two ICC World Test Championship Final appearances and India's monumental Test series win in Australia in 2020/21.

Rohit had already called time on his T20I career after leading India to the Men's T20 World Cup title in 2024.

Having also captained the team to the ICC Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year, Rohit elaborated that he will continue to lead the team in the 50-over format.