Rohit Sharma Announces Test Cricket Retirement: Wife Ritika Sajdeh Shares Emotional Response

Rohit Sharma’s Test Retirement Announcement

In a significant development for Indian cricket, captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 38-year-old veteran shared the news through his official Instagram account on Wednesday, bringing an end to his distinguished red-ball career that spanned over a decade.

“Hello everyone, I would just 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,” Rohit posted on Instagram alongside a picture of his Test cap.

The announcement comes at a time when Rohit has faced challenging form in recent Test series, particularly in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and the home series against New Zealand. With this decision, Rohit has now narrowed his international cricket focus exclusively to One Day Internationals (ODIs), having already stepped away from T20 Internationals following the World Cup last year.

Ritika Sajdeh’s Emotional Reaction

Following the announcement, Rohit’s wife Ritika Sajdeh shared her emotional response to her husband’s decision. She reshared Rohit’s Instagram story from her own account, adding several heartbreak emojis to express her feelings about this significant career transition.

Ritika Sajdeh shared heartbreak emojis on her Instagram story after Rohit announced his Test retirement. (Image: Instagram/Ritika Sajdeh)

The subtle yet poignant reaction highlights the emotional weight of the decision for the cricketer’s family. Ritika has been a consistent presence throughout Rohit’s career milestones, often seen supporting him from the stands during crucial matches across formats. Her heartbreak emojis reflect the end of a significant chapter in Rohit’s illustrious career that the couple has navigated together.

Rohit’s Test Career: Key Statistics and Achievements

Rohit Sharma concludes his Test career with impressive statistics that underscore his significance in India’s red-ball cricket history. His journey in the longest format began with a century on debut against the West Indies in Kolkata in 2013, marking a spectacular entry into Test cricket.

Initially viewed as a limited-overs specialist, Rohit’s Test career gained momentum in 2019 when he was promoted to open the batting. This strategic move paid dividends as he showcased his ability to tackle the new ball while maintaining his natural flair for stroke play. His transformation into a Test opener added a new dimension to his career and India’s batting prowess.

Recent Performances and Challenges

Rohit’s decision to retire from Test cricket comes after a period of challenging performances that may have influenced his timing. His struggles were particularly evident in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, where he averaged a disappointing 6.20 across five innings. The series, which India lost 3-1, saw Rohit make the difficult decision to drop himself for the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Prior to the Australian tour, Rohit also endured a difficult home series against New Zealand, where India suffered an unexpected 3-0 defeat. During this series, his batting form was similarly concerning, with an average of just 15.16 that fell significantly below his career standards.

These recent challenges stand in stark contrast to some of Rohit’s earlier achievements in Test cricket, including his impressive performances as an opener between 2019 and 2023. The difficulties faced in his final Test outings perhaps contributed to his decision to step away from the longest format while continuing his career in ODIs.

Captaincy Record in Test Cricket

As India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma led the team in 24 matches, securing 12 victories against 9 defeats. His tenure as Test captain began after Virat Kohli stepped down from the role, and Rohit brought his own leadership style to the position.

Under his captaincy, India reached the World Test Championship final against Australia, a significant achievement in the global Test arena. While India didn’t secure the title, Rohit’s leadership throughout the qualifying period played a crucial role in the team’s journey to the final.

His captaincy record, while mixed in terms of win-loss ratio, included some memorable victories and strategic decisions that showcased his cricket acumen. Rohit’s leadership in Test cricket added another dimension to his contribution to Indian cricket beyond his batting exploits.

Rohit’s Cricket Future Post-Test Retirement

With his Test retirement, Rohit Sharma will now focus exclusively on ODI cricket for India, having already stepped away from T20 Internationals after the World Cup last year. This narrowing of focus could potentially extend his international career in the 50-over format, where he has enjoyed tremendous success as both a batsman and captain.

At 38, Rohit’s decision to streamline his international commitments appears strategic, potentially allowing him to manage his workload more effectively and extend his contribution to Indian cricket in a format where he has excelled. As India’s current ODI captain, his leadership and experience remain valuable assets for the team’s future campaigns.

Rohit Sharma will continue to lead India in One Day Internationals after retiring from Test cricket. (Image: BCCI)

The cricket community will now watch with interest to see how this decision influences his ODI performances and captaincy. With reduced format commitments, there’s potential for Rohit to channel his energy and experience into further elevating his ODI game and leadership as he enters the twilight phase of his illustrious career.

As Rohit closes this significant chapter of his cricket journey, his Test retirement marks the end of an era for a player who successfully transformed himself from a limited-overs specialist to an accomplished performer across all formats. His contributions to Indian Test cricket, both as a batsman and captain, have left an indelible mark on the nation’s rich cricketing legacy.