As ‘Hitman’ Sharma steps away, questions on transition abound

At 38, Rohit walks away from the longest format with 4,301 runs, 12 centuries, and an average of 40.57.

In a quiet Instagram post, Rohit Sharma, India’s beloved “Hitman”, brought the curtain down on his Test career. At 38, Rohit walks away from the longest format with 4,301 runs, 12 centuries, and an average of 40.57. But here’s the thing: numbers tell only a fraction of the Rohit Sharma story.

His retirement marks not just the end of a personal chapter, but the beginning of a much larger shift in Indian cricket. It signals a generational handover, one that will reshape India’s roadmap for the years ahead.

Rohit’s Test journey was anything but smooth. For years, he was celebrated as a white-ball maestro, but his red-ball credentials remained under a cloud. After a dream debut in 2013 with back-to-back centuries, Rohit’s Test career meandered, interrupted by injuries, inconsistency, and the tricky challenge of batting in the middle order.

2019, the breakthrough year in test cricket

It wasn’t until 2019, when he was promoted to opener, that Rohit truly unlocked his Test potential. In home conditions, he blossomed, dazzling fans with centuries against South Africa, delivering a series-defining 161 against England in Chennai, and scoring a memorable 127 at The Oval in 2021, his first overseas Test hundred. That knock silenced critics who questioned his record outside Asia. Beyond the runs and tons was the languid ease and classy elegance of Rohit's batting. It invariably brought cool composure to the Indian team and delighted fans.

As captain too, Rohit brought a certain calm to a team transitioning out of the Virat Kohli era. He steered India through several high-pressure battles, including the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final. Though India fell short against Australia in that clash, it was just a blip in an otherwise dominant run over the last couple of years. The T20 World Cup triumph last year seemed to reaffirm Rohit’s Midas touch. But soon after, cracks began to appear.

Endgame in red ball cricket

His form dipped sharply. Against New Zealand at home, India suffered a shocking whitewash, and Rohit’s struggles were glaring. Then came the tour to Australia: he missed the first Test for the birth of his second child, ironically, the only match India won, and when he returned, he could muster just 31 runs across five innings. The whispers of retirement grew louder.

Interestingly, Rohit even dropped himself for the final Test in Sydney due to poor form but insisted it wasn’t retirement. He confidently told reporters that those with a “mic, pen, or laptop” couldn’t decide when players should step away. After India’s Champions Trophy triumph, many believed Rohit would continue to lead the Test side, at least through the upcoming England series. He even hinted as much on a recent podcast with former Australia captain Michael Clarke.

That’s why today, fans are left wondering: Did Rohit step away on his own terms, or was he nudged out? It’s a question bound to fuel debates in cricketing circles for years. For now, one thing is clear - the old guard is moving on. With Kohli stepping back from captaincy, Ajinkya Rahane out of favor, and Ravi Ashwin already retired, India is officially entering a new leadership era.

Who will handle India in the transition phase?

Who inherits the mantle? Jasprit Bumrah has shown tremendous grit and leadership when called upon, but his workload will always need careful management. Coming off major injuries, his real value lies in being preserved for big moments which makes a permanent captaincy unlikely.

Shubman Gill, on the other hand, is increasingly being groomed as the next big leader. His captaincy with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 has won wide praise. He looks ready to carry Indian cricket’s next generation forward.

Then there’s the wildcard, Rishabh Pant. Few players light up a match like him and his Test record alone makes him an exciting leadership candidate. But is he ready? Since returning from his horrific car accident, Pant’s form has been patchy, and his IPL captaincy over the last few seasons hasn’t exactly been inspiring.

And don’t overlook KL Rahul. Quietly, he’s matured not just as a batter but as a dressing-room presence. Rahul has already led India in three Tests and has been in superb form across formats recently. Many insiders see him as a safe, steady option. The selectors have a tough decision ahead, not just to pick a captain, but to pick the right captain.

BCCI’s challenges

As young guns like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy break into the Test scene, the team’s makeup is evolving fast. These players bring not just raw talent but a new cricketing ethic, one shaped by IPL exposure and a fearless approach to the game.

The challenge for the BCCI and team management will be to manage this transition carefully, preserving India’s hard-earned steel while welcoming fresh energy and ideas.

Beyond the cricketing narrative, Rohit’s retirement holds commercial and organizational implications. He has been one of Indian cricket’s most marketable faces, commanding sponsorship deals, brand endorsements, and massive fan following. With Kohli’s brand power still intact but aging, and Rohit stepping away from Tests, the BCCI must now invest in building a new generation of stars who can carry the twin burdens of performance and marketability.

As the dust settles, fans will debate Rohit’s Test legacy. Was he underachieving compared to his white-ball genius? Did he bloom too late to leave a permanent Test imprint? But legacies aren’t built on averages alone. Rohit’s journey marked by reinvention and late-career triumph tells the story of a cricketer who ultimately conquered his Test demons.

With change comes opportunity. The next few years will test India’s depth of talent and its ability to remain a global powerhouse across formats while ushering in fresh faces. Rohit’s Test retirement is not just a goodbye; it’s a reminder that cricket, like life, is always in motion. And for Indian cricket, the next chapter promises to be as thrilling and unpredictable as the last one featuring 'Hitman' Sharma!