India captain Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket

NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the team´s tour of England starting next month, but will continue to play the shorter 50-over format.

In 67 Tests, Rohit scored 4,301 runs including 12 centuries with a best of 212 against South Africa in 2019 and an average of over 40. He captained India in 24 Tests with 12 wins, nine defeats and three draws.

“Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket,” the 38-year-old Rohit wrote on Instagram. “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, who quit T20 internationals alongwith Virat Kohli after India´s World Cup triumph in Barbados last year, recently led the team to an ODI Champions Trophy title in Dubai. India will begin a five-Test series in England in June-July and the team now needs a new Test skipper.

India´s cricket board said, “Rohit Sharma has informed us of his decision to retire from Test cricket. A legend of the red-ball game.” “We will soon announce a new Test captain - it´s time for the next generation to rise.” Rohit´s last Test was in Melbourne last year when India lost to Australia by 184 runs.

He stood down as captain in the fifth Test in Sydney due to poor batting form but India went on to lose the match and the five-match series 2-1.

Jasprit Bumrah was Rohit´s deputy in Australia and led the team in the first Test, which Rohit missed due to the birth of his second child, and the final Test. Rohit managed just 31 runs in five innings of his three outings Down Under and the Indian media speculated that he could retire from Test cricket after the series.