Rohit Sharma called time on his Test career on May 7. However, the call did not come as a surprise to many as he lost the Test series against New Zealand at home, followed by Australia down under.
Rohit's decision to step down as the test skipper was understandable with India to tour England in June 2025. The board is also looking for someone younger to be the Test captain and hence Rohit's decision to step down makes sense.
Shubman Gill is touted to become the next Test skipper. However, former cricketers are saying that appointing him as India's Test skipper could be a wrong move given his inexperience in the format.
Also Read: Shubman Gill Or Jasprit Bumrah - Wasim Jaffer Chooses India's Next Test Captain
Thats Not The Stage You Leave A Team - Ravi Shastri On Rohit Sharma Missing Sydney Test
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, broke his silence on Rohit Sharma's Test retirement. Rohit scored 164 runs in his last 15 innings in Test cricket. He scored just 31 in his last five innings. Owing to his poor form in the format, he dropped himself from the final Test in Sydney with Jasprit Bumrah leading the side.
“I saw Rohit a lot at the toss. At the toss, you don't get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games. I think it was in Mumbai and told him, if I was coach you would have never not played that last Test match. You would have played that last Test match because the series wasn't over," Shastri said on ICC Review.
And I'm not someone who threw in the towel with the scoreline 2-1. If your mindset is you feel you are… that's not the stage, you leave a team,” he added.
He further said that despite Rohit's low returns in his final few Test matches for India, he was always a match-winner for India in international cricket. He said that even a 25-40 run knock from Rohit would have meant a lot in the Sydney Test.
“That was a 30-40 run game. And that's exactly what I told him. The pitch was so spicy in Sydney. Whatever kind of form he was in, he's a match-winner. If he had gone, sensed the situation, sensed the condition and smashed it for even 35-40 at the top, you never know. That series would have been level. But that's each one to his own" Shastri added saying.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah Reportedly Rules Himself Out of Contention for Next India Captain
Rohit Sharma's Test Numbers
Rohit retired from Test cricket with 4,301 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 40.57, comprising 12 centuries and 18 fifties. He also won 12 out of his 24 Tests as captain.
