Indian captain Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket

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.

"It's an absolute honour to represent my country in whites," the 38-year-old Rohit wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for all the love and support over the years."

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.

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.

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.

Rohit began his Test career in 2013, but it was five years later that he came into his own in the five-day format as a swashbuckling opener and later took over as captain from Kohli.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday had also commented on Rohit Sharma and fellow veteran Virat Kohli’s future in Tests, stating that as long as they continue to perform, their place in the Test squad should not be questioned.

“As long as they are performing, they deserve to be in the team,” Gambhir said.

“When a player begins or ends their career should be their own decision. No coach, selector, or even the BCCI should have the authority to decide that. If someone is performing at 40, they can play till 45. Who is stopping them?” he added.

Gambhir, however, clarified that his responsibilities as head coach do not include picking the squad.

“A coach’s job is not to select the team. That responsibility lies with the selectors. My role begins once the squad is final — I focus on selecting the best playing XI for each match,” he concluded.