In a move that stunned many within Indian cricket circles, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7 through a social media post—just a day after a key meeting at the BCCI headquarters. According to a report by Cricbuzz, this decision caught the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel by surprise, as they were not informed beforehand.
A Sudden Exit Amid Major Developments
The BCCI meeting, attended by president Roger Binny, secretary Devajit Saikia, and GM Abey Kuruvilla, was held for the inauguration of the Sachin Tendulkar Room and Sunil Gavaskar Room. Notably absent from the meeting were Rohit Sharma and Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Mumbai Indians were scheduled to play Gujarat Titans that evening, which could explain Rohit’s nonattendance.
However, sources revealed that Rohit emailed the top BCCI brass on Wednesday evening, just around the time his Instagram story announcing the retirement went public. Meanwhile, chief selector Agarkar was seen taking a phone call at the Cricket Club of India—possibly linked to Rohit’s bombshell.
Poor Form and Speculation on Future
Rohit Sharma’s Test form had been under scrutiny, especially after a disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 in Australia, where he scored just 31 runs in five innings—an average of 6.20, the worst by a visiting Indian captain. He even opted out of the fifth Test at SCG, citing poor form.
With India set to play a crucial five-Test series in England next month, speculation had been rife about Rohit’s future in red-ball cricket. While discussions regarding the England tour reportedly took place during the May 6 meeting, there’s no confirmation on whether leadership changes were discussed.
According to reports, a final call on Rohit’s role was expected around May 20, when the Test squad for the England series is to be announced. His early retirement, therefore, has disrupted planned timelines and left many unanswered questions.
Was It A Personal Call?
While some insiders suggest the decision may have been Rohit’s alone, others point toward growing signs of change within the team setup. Notably, the contracts of a few members of India’s support staff—believed to be close to Rohit, including Abhishek Nayar—have not been renewed.
Earlier reports had suggested that Rohit would base his red-ball future on his IPL 2025 performance. Despite a couple of strong innings for Mumbai Indians, his overall campaign wasn’t spectacular enough to silence critics.
Focus Shifts to ODIs
Having already stepped away from T20Is after captaining India to a World Cup win in 2024, Rohit’s retirement from Tests marks the end of an era. He will now focus exclusively on ODIs, where he is expected to continue leading India.
As fans and pundits reflect on Rohit Sharma’s memorable Test career—spanning over a decade and filled with many highs—the manner of his exit has sparked debate. Was it premeditated? Was he nudged? Or did he decide on his own terms?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—Rohit’s absence will be felt in the Indian Test setup.
