6 Indian cricketers who might retire from test cricket in 2025

After Ravi Ashwin, a few more Indian cricketers are expected to retire in the coming months.

Ravi Ashwin announced a sudden retirement – unexpected in ways that it happened in the middle of a series – on December 18, 2024, from international cricket, bringing down one of the most illustrious test careers of all time.

Ashwin had had one bad series – he averaged 41 with the ball against New Zealand in the home 0-3 whitewash – and was part of the lost Adelaide test, prompting him to quit on international cricket.

But Ashwin’s retirement is just the start of a slew of retirements in the coming times. In his retirement speech, Ashwin said, “We’re the last bunch of OGs” referring to the spate of senior players who he has played along with in the past dozen years and who are yet to officially retire while they find themselves out of the test team.

These six players are expected to retire from test cricket in 2025:

1. Cheteshwar Pujara

One of India’s best No. 3, Cheteshwar Pujara’s last test match for India was in the ICC WTC 2021-23 final in June 2023 against Australia.

He was dropped from the side in 2022, but managed to make a comeback. But, it wasn’t a fruitful comeback and he was axed after the ICC WTC final in 2023. Shubman Gill has cemented his place at No. 3 now.

Pujara scored 7195 runs in 103 tests in his career at an average of 43 with 19 centuries. He was a a key contributor to India’s twin test series wins in Australia.

2. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane’s last test match for India was in July 2023 in West Indies. Like Pujara, he was also dropped in 2022 and made his comeback for the ICC WTC 2021-23 final, where he top-scored for India in both innings. He played one more series after that and was dropped again.

In 85 tests, Rahane scored 5077 runs at 38 with 12 centuries. Rahane is famously remembered for captaining India to the BGT 2020/21 series win in Australia.

3. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is the only specialist Indian pacer to play in 100 test matches. The last of his 105 tests came in November 2021, having made his test debut in 2007.

While Ishant struggled with form and fitness during the first half of his career, he surged in progress during the second half. He finished with 311 wickets and 11 five-fors in test cricket.

The lanky seamer formed a formidable pace-bowling trio with Bumrah and Shami that won India’s maiden test series win Australia in 2018/19.

4. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav was an underrated pacer for Team India; someone who was reliable in home conditions. Umesh took 101 test wickets in India at an average of 25.88. Of the five pacers who took over 100 wickets in India, Umesh’s average was the best.

Overall, he claimed 170 test wickets in 57 tests, having made his debut in 2011. His last test match was the ICC WTC 2021-23 final, after which he was dropped for Mukesh Kumar.

5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

One of the best exponent of swing bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar played 21 test matches between 2013 and 2018, in which he snared 63 wickets at an average of 26 with four five-fors.

Bhuvneshwar’s test career was significantly dented by injuries. While he’s returned to First-Class cricket, a comeback to the Indian test side is unlikely as India have moved on to younger, fitter seamers.

6. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, who has already retired from T20Is, might bid adieu to test cricket by soon. He’s been in terrible form recently. In his last seven tests, he’s averaged only 11 with one half-century. In fact, he’s gone past 25 only once in his last 13 innings.

Rohit will turn 38 in April 2025. India might want to move on from him from the next WTC cycle, which will start with the tour of England in June 2025.

Whether he retires himself or the selectors push him out, the end of Rohit’s test career is nigh.

(All stats and numbers updated till 19th December, 2024)

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