Discover the Indian Test cricketers who might retire in 2025, as age and performance shape the future of their careers. Ravi Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket on December 18, 2024, during an ongoing series. This marked the end of one of the greatest Test careers ever.
Ashwin had struggled in a recent series, averaging 41 with the ball in a 0-3 home loss to New Zealand, and was part of the team that lost the Adelaide Test. These performances seemed to push him toward retirement.
In his farewell speech, Ashwin hinted that more retirements could follow, saying, “We’re the last bunch of OGs.” He referred to the senior players he played alongside for over a decade, many of whom are no longer in the Test team but haven’t officially retired yet.
6. Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s finest No. 3 batters, played his last Test match in the ICC WTC 2021-23 final against Australia in June 2023.
Although he was dropped from the team in 2022, Pujara made a comeback, but it didn’t go as expected. After the ICC WTC final in 2023, he was left out again, with Shubman Gill now taking the No. 3 spot.
Pujara scored 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43, including 19 centuries. He played a vital role in India’s two historic Test series wins in Australia.
| Match | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | 176 | 7195 | 206* | 43.60 | 44.36 | 19 | 35 | 863 | 16 |
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane last played a Test match for India in July 2023 against the West Indies. Similar to Pujara, he was dropped in 2022 but returned for the ICC WTC 2021-23 final, where he was India’s top scorer in both innings. He played one more series after that before being dropped again.
Rahane has scored 5077 runs in 85 Tests, averaging 38 with 12 centuries. He is best remembered for leading India to victory in the BGT 2020/21 series in Australia.
| Match | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | 144 | 5077 | 188 | 38.46 | 49.50 | 12 | 26 | 578 | 35 |
4. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is the only Indian fast bowler to play 100 Test matches. He made his Test debut in 2007, and his last match was in November 2021.
Although Ishant faced struggles with form and fitness early in his career, he improved significantly in the later years. He ended his Test career with 311 wickets and 11 five-wicket hauls.
Ishant was part of a strong pace trio with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, helping India win their first Test series in Australia in 2018-19.
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| Match | Innings | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 188 | 10078 | 311 | 7/74 | 32.40 | 61.6 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
3. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav was an underrated fast bowler for Team India, known for his reliability in home conditions. He took 101 Test wickets in India at an impressive average of 25.88, the best among the five pacers with over 100 wickets in the country.
In total, Umesh played 57 Test matches since his debut in 2011, taking 170 wickets. His last Test appearance was in the ICC WTC 2021-23 final, after which he was replaced by Mukesh Kumar.
| Match | Innings | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 112 | 5263 | 170 | 6/88 | 30.95 | 52.8 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, known for his excellent swing bowling, played 21 Test matches between 2013 and 2018, taking 63 wickets at an average of 26, including four five-wicket hauls.
Injuries affected Bhuvneshwar’s Test career, and although he has returned to First-Class cricket, a return to the Indian Test team seems unlikely as the team now relies on younger and fitter fast bowlers.
| Match | Innings | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 37 | 1644 | 63 | 6/82 | 26.09 | 53.1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, who has already retired from T20Is, might soon step away from Test cricket. His recent form has been poor, with an average of just 11 in his last seven Tests and only one half-century. In his last 13 innings, he has crossed 25 runs just once.
Rohit will turn 38 in April 2025, and India may look to move on from him for the next WTC cycle, which begins with the England tour in June 2025.
Whether Rohit chooses to retire or the selectors decide to drop him, his Test career seems to be nearing its end.
| Match | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 114 | 4289 | 212 | 41.24 | 57.24 | 12 | 18 | 473 | 88 |
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