Rohit Sharma puts test retirement speculation to bed with confirmation to participate in Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Rohit Sharma had a batting average of 24 in test cricket in 2024.

Rohit Sharma had a tough year in test cricket in 2024. The Indian captain scored 619 runs at an average of 24.76 and faced criticism for both his batting form and captaincy in the longest format.

Rohit Sharma began the year well with two centuries against England in the five-match home test series. Opening with Yashasvi Jaiswal, he gave India solid starts and played a crucial role in their 4-1 series win.

However, his form declined in the second half of the test season from September onwards. The experienced opener scored only one half-century in eight tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, struggling against both spin and pace.

Things went bad to worse when his poor form led him to drop himself for the final test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Sydney.

Rohit’s strong decision at the end of India’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle sparked speculation about his possible retirement from test cricket. However, he has ended the rumours by confirming his participation in Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir.

Rohit confirms his participation in the Ranji Trophy

During announcement of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India captain Rohit Sharma addressed the media and confirmed his participation in the upcoming Ranji Trophy game, stating, “I will play.“

Addressing speculation about Indian players neglecting domestic cricket, skipper Rohit Sharma clarified that since becoming a regular in test cricket, he has observed how limited the time is to recharge. He emphasized that no player takes domestic cricket for granted.

He added, “For me personally, Since I’ve started playing test cricket regularly since 2019, you hardly get time. When you play international cricket regularly, you need time off, just to refresh. Nobody takes it for granted.”

India’s next test assignment is a five-match series in England, starting in June. If selected, Rohit will aim to make an impact in the series if he has to extend his test career.

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