Rohit Sharma Retires: South Africa Great Says India Won’t Miss Him in Tests

Rohit Sharma Calls it Quits on Test Cricket

Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaving a big void in the Indian team ahead of the upcoming series against England in June. This decision comes after a string of underwhelming performances, particularly during the recent tour of Australia where he struggled to find his form.

Cullinan’s Blunt Assessment

South Africa’s cricketing legend Daryll Cullinan has offered a candid assessment of Sharma’s retirement, stating that it was ‘probably long overdue’ in Test matches outside of India. Cullinan, speaking to Hindustan Times, pointed out that Sharma hasn’t consistently replicated his impressive domestic form on the international stage, especially in overseas conditions.

“Let’s be honest about it,” Cullinan said. “He hasn’t really been the player that he throughout his career has been at home and we saw reluctance from him in recent Australian series to really take it on and lead from the front. So I don’t see that as being a loss for India at all.”

A Mixed Bag of Records

While Sharma’s international Test record isn’t dismal, with 4,301 runs in 67 matches and 12 wins as captain, his struggles outside India have been a recurring concern. His last significant success in Test cricket came during the home series against England in early 2024, where he amassed over 400 runs.

This recent form dip, coupled with a less-than-stellar performance in the New Zealand Test series, seems to have sealed Sharma’s fate in the longer format.

Shubman Gill Steps Up

Sharma’s retirement leaves India facing a significant challenge in finding a replacement captain for the upcoming Test series against England. Sources suggest that young batsman Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to take over the reins, adding another layer of intrigue to the series.