Rohit Sharma Retires from Test Cricket: A Look at His Red-Ball Journey

In a move that brings an end to a heroic chapter, Rohit Sharma has confirmed his retirement from Test cricket. The 38-year-old from Mumbai, famous for his timing and calmness at the crease, is hanging up his red-ball boots after a life full of late-starting brilliance, leadership success, and key milestones.

A Promising Start and a Turning Point in 2019 for Rohit Sharma

Rohit made his Tests debut against the West Indies in 2013 and scored a century in his first match. But it was in 2019 that his Test career really improved when he was promoted to open at the top. Since then, his scores skyrocketed. As an opener, he scored 2,594 runs in 34 Tests, with nine centuries and seven half-centuries. He debuted as an opener with a wonderful double century (212) and became the first batsman to score twin centuries in his opening Test as an opener.

Home Dominance & Rock-Solid Overseas Record of Rohit Sharma

His home-debut performance was particularly one-sided: averaging 51.37 in 22 Tests with seven hundreds. In 2021 alone, he enjoyed a bountiful run, scoring 906 runs at 47.68. For his entire Test career, Rohit finished with 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57. Impressively, he also excelled in England, averaging 44.66 in challenging conditions.

A Decline in Form and Leadership Challenges

But his Test career concluded on a more volatile note. According to The Indian Express, the Ajit Agarkar-headed BCCI senior selection panel had decided to exclude Rohit Sharma as Test captain ahead of the England tour on the back of his recent red-ball showing. India had lost five of their last six Tests under his leadership a 2-1 defeat against New Zealand at home and a 4-1 loss in Australia. During the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, Rohit Sharma had a nightmare at the bat, delivering only 6.20 average from five innings. This follows a lackluster home series against New Zealand, where he achieved just 15.16 average.

The Final Days and the Decision to Retire

Despite the fact that he expressed his intention to lead India in the England series on a podcast with Michael Clarke, the selectors were insistent. According to reports, Rohit Sharma even withdrew himself from the playing XI for the final Test in Sydney due to his prolonged slump. The BCCI has since stood by the decision of the selectors, effectively terminating Rohit’s captaincy spell.

Rohit Sharma may have considered continuing as a specialist batsman, but retirement is a subjective assessment of form, fitness, and priorities ahead.As he leaves Test cricket, he carries with him a legacy marked by early promise, a dramatic comeback as an opener, and a captaincy career that ebbed and flowed.

From Eden Gardens to The Oval, from record-breaking innings to leadership issues, Rohit Sharma’s Test career was anything but normal. People will remember it for its transformation, resilience, and moments of sheer brilliance.