Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket - 7 highlights from his storied career

The announcement is hardly a surprise - Sharma turned 38 little more than a week ago, and his recent Test form has been on the decline. He struggled in Australia at the end of 2024, failing to pass fifty in any of the three Tests he played. His last Test ton, against England in Dharamsala, was over a year ago.

But while he may have suffered a dip in form at the tail-end of his illustrious Test career, there were plenty of high points along the way. Let's take a moment to look back on the Test career of one of India's all-time greats, a batsman who ends his Test career with 4,301 runs from 67 matches at an average of 40.57.

1. A century on Test debut

Rohit Sharma announced himself on the Test stage in spectacular fashion. In November 2013, playing against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, he scored 177 in India's first innings. Coming in at number six (behind players like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Shikhar Dhawan), he counter-punched a potent pace attack led by Tino Best and Sheldon Cottrell. His elegant cover drives and crisp pull shots thrilled the home crowd, and his knock remains the highest debut score by an Indian in Tests. Sharma's 177 set the tone for his career: classy, bold, and brim-full of timing. When Rohit arrived at the crease, India was struggling 82 for four. When he was eventually dismissed, the score was 436 for seven, a total that saw India go on to win by an innings.

2. Ninth on the list of most sixes in Test cricket

Traditionally, Test cricket isn't about clearing the ropes, but Rohit brought his white-ball instincts into the red-ball arena with remarkable success. Over his 67-match career, he hit 88 sixes, placing him ninth overall among all Test batsmen. From lofted drives over mid-off to audacious heaves over midwicket, Sharma's six-hitting added an extra dimension to India's batting. His animation at the crease and willingness to attack any length made him one of the most feared batsmen when in full flow.

3. A hundred in each innings of a Test

Few feats epitomise Test mastery like two centuries in one match. In October 2019, India hosted South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Now batting at the top of the order, a position with which he is most associated, Rohit rose to the challenge, scoring 176 in the first innings before following it up with 127 in the second. These were the first Test match centuries by any Indian batsman at that venue, and they propelled India to a comfortable victory. His ability to repeat big scores under pressure signalled his evolution from a flamboyant stroke-player to a fully matured Test cricketer.

4. Record 7th wicket partnership for India

It happened in his debut Test in 2013 against the West Indies. When MS Dhoni was dismissed for a gutsy 42, Ravi Ashwin joined Sharma at the crease with the score on 156 for six. The duo stitched together an astounding 280-run partnership - the highest ever 7th-wicket stand for India and the 4th highest globally. Rohit's 177 complemented Ashwin's gritty 124, and the stand turned a likely collapse into a commanding position. It remains one of the finest displays of lower-order recovery in Test history.

5. Career-best 212 against South Africa

Rohit's highest Test score of 212 came in October 2019 at Ranchi, against a formidable South African pace attack. Batting first, he crafted a marathon innings, showcasing both elegance and endurance. His knock included 24 boundaries and was studded with exquisite drives through the offside. This double century was the first by an Indian at the JSCA International Stadium Complex and underscored his status as a true big-innings player.

6. Highest Test score outside India

Success abroad is often the ultimate Test for subcontinental batsmen. Rohit's highest score away from home was 127 at The Oval in September 2021, playing against England. On one of cricket's most famous grounds, he negotiated the swinging Duke ball early on and then seized control once the shine was off. His century included crisp cuts, and a trademark pull shot, earning him praise from former England greats for his technique and temperament in challenging conditions. His knock helped turn a first-innings deficit of 100 runs into a win by 157 runs.

7. India's 16th highest Test run-scorer

As Rohit Sharma walks away from Test cricket, he does so as India's 16th highest run-scorer, with 4,301 runs to his name. Behind legends like Tendulkar, Dravid, and VVS Laxman, Rohit carved out his own legacy through a blend of graceful stroke-play and match-winning knocks. Over a decade of Test cricket, he transformed from a debut century-maker into a senior statesman, mentoring younger players and leading by example.