Rohit Sharma’s Test career is a story of perseverance, transformation, and late-blooming brilliance. From his entry as a middle-order batter to being one of India’s greatest Test openers and leaders, Rohit’s career in cricket’s longest format has made its mark on Indian cricket.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli Test Career
Rohit Sharma Test Career Stats
Matches Played: 67
Runs Scored: 4,301
Centuries: 12
Half-Centuries: 18
Batting Average: 40.57
Highest Score: 212
Test Captaincy: 24 matches (12 wins, 9 losses, 3 draws, 50% win rate)
Debut: November 6, 2013, vs West Indies, Kolkata
Last Test: January 2025, v Australia, Sydney
Rohit Sharma’s Test numbers show a picture of a batter who has improved with age. Struggling to find a spot in the team initially, his conversion to the opening slot in 2019 changed his Test game completely, resulting in a run explosion and match-winning performances.
Rohit Sharma’s Retirement from Test Cricket
Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7, 2025, through an Instagram post, just before India’s Test tour of England. He confirmed that he would continue to play ODI cricket for India.
“Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. 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.
— Rohit Sharma, May 7, 2025
This was after a run of poor form, specifically in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, and following reports that he would be dropped as Test captain for the England series.
Test Cricket Records and Greatest Achievements
Key Achievements:
- Guided India to the World Test Championship final against Australia.
- Revitalized his Test career after being elevated to opener in 2019, scoring briskly at home and abroad.
- Scored several match-winning innings, particularly in home conditions, and was instrumental in India’s dominant home record in his playing career as an opener and captain.
Major Records and Milestones:
- Only Indian to score twin centuries on debut as an opener.
- Scored a double century (212) against South Africa in 2019.
- Registered the highest number of sixes in a single Test series (19 sixes vs South Africa, 2019).
- Part of the rare group of Indian batsmen with 12 or more Test centuries.
Debut and Final Test Match
Debut: Rohit Sharma made his test debut on November 6, 2013, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, playing against West Indies and making 177 runs in his first innings.
Last Test: His last game was played in January 2025 when he participated in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sydney, Australia, ending an illustrious Test career.
Awards and Recognition
Arjuna Award: Rohit Sharma received the Arjuna Award for Indian cricket.
ICC Awards: He has been included in ICC Test Teams of the Year and received several man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards for performances in Test cricket.
Some of the factors below make Rohit Sharma’s Test career remarkable:
Transformation Late: At the age of 32, he was promoted as an opener after years of incompatibility, indicating a major change in his career.
Leadership: Rohit’s leadership was very important at times like tours abroad and when things changed, since the team depended on his calmness and sharp thinking. He got praise for leading the team, understanding matches deeply, and leading the Indian team to the final of the World Test Championship.
Motivational display: India’s wins during the most crucial games in India often came thanks to Rohit’s efforts.
Heritage: Regardless of a belted entry, Rohit’s test is a testament to career determination, perseverance, and the value of seizing opportunities.
Conclusion
Rohit Sharma‘s Test career, 4,301 runs, 12 hundreds, and a captaincy spell that featured a World Test Championship final, is a heartwarming chapter in Indian cricket. His transformation from a struggling middle-order batter to a dominating opener and well-respected leader is a template for late bloomers in cricket.
Rohit Sharma’s Test legacy will be remembered for his elegance, flexibility, and the pivotal role he played in defining contemporary Indian Test cricket
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma’s Net Worth
