Rohit Sharma Opens Up On The Real Reason Behind His Test Retirement

On May 7, Rohit Sharma surprised everyone by announcing that he was stepping away from Test cricket. That meant his last red-ball appearance came during India’s tour of Australia in late 2024. Since he had already retired from T20Is the year before, the only international format he is still active in now is ODIs.

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Naturally, fans were left wondering: why did Rohit Sharma call time on his Test career? Many pointed fingers at coach Gautam Gambhir, while others felt there was more to it. For months, the real reason stayed a mystery.

The Hidden Strain of Test Cricket

Recently, at a CEAT event, Rohit Sharma might have let slip the actual reason behind his decision. While talking about the demands of Test cricket, he seemed to indirectly explain why continuing in the format had become too tough for him.

“Test cricket demands longevity. You’ve got to last five days. Mentally, it’s very challenging and draining as well,” Rohit said.

“In Mumbai, even club matches go on for two or three days. We are brought up that way. It trains you from a young age to deal with long-form cricket and to respond to tough situations,” he added.

“When I started out, it was all about enjoying the game. You don’t really understand the value of preparation. But with time, as you meet senior players and coaches, you begin to realise how essential it is. It’s what instills the discipline that cricket, especially Tests, demands,” he explained.

“A lot of your time goes into prepping before the game. Because once the match begins, it’s all about reaction, reacting to pressure, to game situations, to making the right calls with bat or ball. You can’t prepare during the match, you do it before, so you’re ready to respond when it matters.

When you’re aiming to perform at the highest level, you need mental clarity and freshness. Concentration becomes key. And that clarity only comes from preparation, that’s where it all starts. Whether it’s sport or life, preparation is key,” he concluded.

So, while he did not outright say “this is why I retired,” his words paint a clear picture. The mental and physical grind of five-day cricket eventually caught up with him.

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From Late Bloomer to Test Opener – Rohit Sharma’s inspiring journey

Rohit’s Test story is an interesting one. Unlike in ODIs and T20s, he had a late start here, making his debut in 2013, six years after he had already established himself in the shorter formats. And he could not have asked for a better beginning, smashing centuries in his first two matches.

But the good run did not last long. He struggled for consistency in the years that followed. Things only turned around in 2019 when he was promoted to the opening spot. From there, Rohit Sharma reinvented himself as a Test batter and began scoring heavily.

The Numbers That Defined Rohit Sharma’s Test Career

Over the course of 67 Tests, Rohit Sharma batted 116 times, staying not out on 10 occasions. He piled up 4,301 runs at an average of 40.58, which included 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score, a commanding 212, showed just how destructive he could be on his day.

At 38, Rohit is very much in the final stretch of his international career. Having already stepped away from two formats, only ODIs remain. He has made it clear that he wants to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Can he do it? Possibly. Will he actually manage it? That is something only time can answer.