Rohit Sharma Retires from Test Cricket, BCCI to Name New Captain Ahead of England Tour
In a surprising development, India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday evening, May 7, 2025. The veteran opener, who became the 280th player to represent India in Tests, made the announcement via Instagram, posting a photo of his Test cap along with a heartfelt message. Rohit expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his red-ball career and confirmed that he will continue to play ODIs for India.
With Rohit stepping down, the Indian cricket team will now require a new leader for the upcoming five-match Test series in England. Jasprit Bumrah, who had previously led India in Tests, will not be considered for captaincy due to ongoing back issues, as reported by The Indian Express. To manage his workload and avoid aggravating his condition, the BCCI has ruled him out of any leadership role for the time being. This has narrowed the field down to two main contenders: Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill.
Rishabh Pant, one of India’s most impactful Test batters in recent years, has the advantage of being an experienced decision-maker behind the stumps, though he lacks extensive captaincy experience at the international level. On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who has already served as India’s ODI vice-captain and led Gujarat Titans in the IPL, is seen by the team management as a future leader. With a better captaincy track record and a stable presence in the team, Gill is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Rohit as India’s red-ball captain.
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