"It takes a lot…" Rohit Sharma terms test cricket as mentally challenging and draining after retirement

Rohit Sharma said that test cricket requires a lot of preparation.

Veteran Indian batter Rohit Sharma has termed test cricket as mentally challenging and draining. Notably, Rohit retired from test cricket in May this year before Indian Cricket Team‘s five-match test tour of England.

The Indian opener played 67 tests, scoring 4301 runs in 116 innings at an average of 40.58. He slammed 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. The 38-year-old became the test captain in 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli in the role.

Sharma also led the team to the final of ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23, where they finished as runners-up after losing to Australia. After Rohit’s retirement from test cricket, Shubman Gill took over the reins as test captain.

Test cricket is mentally challenging and draining: Rohit Sharma

During a CEAT event, Rohit said that test cricket demands longevity and is mentally challenging and draining.

“It is something that you prepare for, because the game demands longevity. Especially in the Test format, you have to last for five days. Mentally, it is very challenging and it is draining as well. But all cricketers have been brought up playing First-Class cricket,” he said.

“When we start playing cricket at a competitive level, even in Mumbai, club cricket (matches) go on for two days (or) three days so we are built like that and it starts at a very young age for us. It kind of makes it a little easier how to respond to situations that are there in front of you,” he added.

Rohit also added that playing in test cricket demands a lot of concentration, and players have to be mentally fresh all the time.

“It takes a lot when you’re playing the longest format and concentration is something that is the key, because you are speaking about high level performance and when you are expecting to put in high level performance, it starts with being mentally fresh all the time,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Rohit was last seen in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in June, where he was part of Mumbai Indians (MI). He will next play for India during the ODI series against Australia in October. Rohit will lead the team in three ODIs from October 19 to 25 in Australia.

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