World's oldest living person, who is 115 years old, shares the one rule that’s helped her live so long
Rohit Sharma on Team India Captaincy: “Everyone Wants a Young Captain” As He Announces Test Retirement
Rohit Sharma opens up about his journey as Team India’s captain while announcing his retirement from Test cricket. Photo: BCCI
Table of Contents
Rohit Sharma has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, putting an end to months of speculation about his future in the longest format. The 38-year-old Indian skipper revealed his decision on Wednesday, while also sharing candid thoughts about his captaincy journey in a recent interview. Reflecting on his leadership opportunity, Rohit admitted he once doubted whether he’d ever captain India, feeling that “everyone wants a young captain” who could lead for many years.
Rohit Sharma Announces Test Retirement
In a social media post that surprised many cricket fans, Rohit Sharma announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket. “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,” Rohit stated, confirming that he will continue representing India in the ODI format where he remains captain.
This announcement means Rohit will no longer be available for the upcoming five-Test series against England starting June 20, creating an immediate leadership vacuum that the BCCI must address. Having already stepped away from T20 Internationals after leading India to the World Cup title last year, Rohit’s Test retirement means he will now only be seen in India’s blue jersey in the 50-over format.
Rohit’s Cricket Format Status
- Test Cricket: Retired (May 2025)
- T20 Internationals: Retired (After T20 World Cup 2024)
- ODI Cricket: Active (Currently captain)
Captaincy Reflections: “Everyone Wants a Young Captain”
In a revealing interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit Sharma opened up about his captaincy journey and the doubts he once harbored about leading India. His candid comments offer insights into the pressures and expectations that come with Indian cricket leadership.
“Haan mujhe laga aise. Kabhi kabhi hota hai sabko young captain chahiye hota hai. Jo 10 saal, 15 saal captaincy kare toh mujhe aise laga ki abb mujhe na mile,” Rohit confessed, which translates to: “Yes, that’s what I felt. Sometimes everyone wants a young captain—someone who can lead for 10 to 15 years. So I thought maybe I won’t get the opportunity.”
Despite these doubts, Rohit expressed gratitude for eventually being entrusted with the leadership role: “But I am forever grateful ki mujhe mauka mila [But I’m forever grateful that I did get the chance].” This reflection reveals the uncertainty even accomplished players face in the highly competitive environment of Indian cricket.
Rohit’s Test Career in Numbers
Rohit Sharma concludes his Test career with impressive statistics, especially considering his transformation from a middle-order batsman to one of India’s most reliable openers in the latter half of his red-ball journey.
| Rohit Sharma’s Test Career Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 67 |
| Runs Scored | 4,301 |
| Centuries | 12 |
| Half-Centuries | 18 |
| Batting Average | 40.57 |
| Debut | November 6, 2013 vs West Indies |
| Final Test | January 2025 vs Australia |
While Rohit had a slow start to his Test career, his transition to opening the batting in 2019 revitalized his red-ball credentials. His ability to adapt his naturally aggressive batting style to the demands of Test cricket showcased his versatility as a batter across all formats.
Who Will Be India’s Next Test Captain?
With Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement, the BCCI now faces the immediate challenge of appointing India’s next Test captain ahead of the crucial five-Test series against England. Several candidates have emerged as potential successors:
Leading Candidates for India’s Test Captaincy
- Jasprit Bumrah: Has prior experience leading India in Tests, including during the Australia tour, but ongoing fitness concerns and workload management may affect his candidacy.
- KL Rahul: One of the frontrunners with leadership experience and a senior presence in the team.
- Shubman Gill: Represents the younger generation and is viewed as a long-term prospect for leadership.
- Rishabh Pant: His remarkable comeback after a serious accident has been inspiring, and his tactical acumen is highly regarded.
As things currently stand, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill appear to be the frontrunners for the Test captaincy role. Bumrah, despite having led India previously, may face considerations related to his workload management, especially given his importance as India’s premier fast bowler across all formats.
Rohit on Leadership Challenges and Legacy
Rohit Sharma showed remarkable self-awareness about his captaincy tenure, acknowledging the limited timeframe he had available as a leader given his age. “Mujhe bhi pata hai mai 10 saal captaincy nahi kar sakta hun. But jo bhi time mujhe milega, I have to make the most of it,” he admitted, which translates to: “I also know I can’t captain for 10 years. But whatever time I do get, I have to make the most of it.”
Rohit’s commitment to maximizing his impact during his captaincy tenure was evident in his statement: “Kaise bhi karke I have to get the full potential out [No matter what, I have to bring out my full potential].” This mindset helped him lead India to T20 World Cup glory in 2024, ending the country’s 11-year ICC trophy drought.
Rohit’s Captaincy Challenges
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy faced significant challenges toward the end of his Test career. India suffered a 0-3 whitewash in a home Test series against New Zealand, and also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia during his tenure. His absence from the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child and subsequent decision to drop himself for the Sydney Test reflected the personal and professional balancing act required in modern cricket leadership.
As Rohit Sharma concludes this chapter of his cricketing journey, his legacy as a Test player and captain will be part of Indian cricket’s rich history. His candid reflections on leadership expectations offer a rare glimpse into the pressures faced by India’s cricket captains and the constant demand for youth and longevity in leadership roles.
While continuing as India’s ODI captain, Rohit’s retirement from Tests marks another transition phase for Indian cricket as they search for new leadership to guide them through upcoming challenges, beginning with the important England Test series next month.
About The Author
