India skipper Rohit Sharma to retire from Tests

By stepping down now, it gives India a chance to appoint a new skipper in time to face England in the upcoming blockbuster five-match Test series in England.

"Hello everyone, I would like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket," Rohit posted on his Instagram story on Wednesday.

"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." 

"Thank you for all of the love and support over the years."

Rohit remains India's ODI skipper, having recently led them to the Champions Trophy. He also retired from T20 internationals after winning last year's World Cup in the format.

Rohit has played 67 Tests and has been India's captain got three years since he took over from Virat Kohli in 2022.

He won half of his 24 Tests as skipper, which is the best win percentage of any India captain except for Kohli, and he also reached the final of the World Test Championship in 2023 when India were beaten by Australia at the Oval.

But the last year has not been a great one for India in the Test arena, as they got beaten 3-0 at home by New Zealand - their first home Test series reverse for 12 years - and lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 against Australia, with Rohit dropping himself for the decisive fifth Test in Sydney after a drop in form.

He will retire from the five-day game having made 4301 runs at an average of 40.57,  with 12 centuries.

The series against England begins at Headingley on 20 June, which will mark the start of a new World Test Championship cycle for both teams.

Pace bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah stepped in as stand-in for Rohit in both the first Test, when he was on paternity leave, and last match in Australia and will be the red-hot favourite to succeed the opener.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India paid tribute to Rohit on X, saying: "Thank you, Captain. End of an era in whites! ... We are proud of you, Hitman".