Rohit Sharma was forced out of Tests? Shocking revelation as former Team India manager lifts the lid

Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, 2025. (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

The manager of the Indian men's squad for the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jaydev Shah, has revealed that Rohit Sharma had himself decided to retire from Test cricket. Since some still think he was pushed or even coerced into retirement by the bosses of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it allays some rumors about one of the most significant events in the team's recent history.

According to Shah, Rohit was "dropped" from the fifth Test in Sydney. At the time, Rohit said that his form had caused him to take back a step, and the BCCI wanted to create a future team because they thought Rohit might not be able to compete in Test matches for the following two years. He did add, though, that Rohit also wanted the team to sign new players for the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.

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“He had a baby, he came back and he couldn’t make runs," Shah said in a podcast named Voices of Impact with Arjun Mirani. “Okay, he was out of form. He was dropped from the last Test, but then he won the Champions Trophy. I think he thought it was time for him to play white ball more than red ball and give another cricketer a chance. I think the board was looking at things like, we have to prepare our team for the next championship. That’s a two-year cycle so it’s better if new players get set and get there," he added.

Following the Test series against Australia, Rohit did not declare his retirement right away; instead, he did so in May, a few weeks before India's squad was selected for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England.

“And it didn’t seem like Rohit could take it for two more years. He also had his injury, he didn’t play a couple of IPL matches because of that either. I think that’s what he thought, and left for the team to grow and build nicely in the new cycle. Such big decisions are taken by big people like Rohit themselves," Shah added.

India named Shubman Gill as captain for the England series, and the team currently trails 1-2 in the five-Test contest, with the final match underway at The Oval in London.