In the span of just a week, Indian cricket has bid farewell to two modern giants in Test cricket, namely Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Initially, Rohit Sharma called time on his Test career before Virat Kohli followed suit.
Meanwhile, their retirements mark a seismic shift in the landscape of Indian red-ball cricket. While the cricket fraternity poured in with rich tributes for their legendary careers, conversations have already turned to a pressing question. Who is going to retire next?
With Kohli and Rohit walking into the sunset, Indian cricket is at the cusp of a generational shift. It is now up to the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, and Washington Sundar to take the baton forward.
With India entering a transition phase, all signs point toward a few more senior pros who are likely to retire from red-ball cricket. Let’s take a look at the three senior pros who are expected to retire from Tests.
1. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has been a vital cog in India’s Test setup for more than a decade, without the shadow of a doubt. The bowling all-rounder who turned into a match-winner with the bat has pitched in with memorable contributions to the team.
Overall, he has played 72 Tests, scoring over 3,370 runs at an average of 34.7, including 4 centuries and 22 fifties. On the other hand, he bagged as many as 323 wickets, including 15 five-wicket hauls. Jadeja’s last Test appearance came against Australia on January 3, 2025.
He is 36 years old and has a growing history of injuries. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the veteran consider stepping away from the longest format. The emergence of younger spinners like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav means that Jadeja might soon decide to focus on ODIs.
Also Read: Shubman Gill emerges as frontrunner to lead India after Rohit Sharma calls time on Test career
2. Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara has been one of the batting workhorses in tough overseas conditions for several years. However, he failed to crack the code in the later stages of his career. His poor form saw him getting axed from the squad. His last Test appearance came against Australia in 2023.
The 37-year-old hasn’t been a regular feature since then. Overall, he played 103 Tests and scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.6. Notably, he hit 19 centuries, 35 fifties, and 3 double centuries. In fact, the younger crop like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan, have been constantly making strong cases with the bat. As a result, Pujara’s retirement might not be far off.
3. Ajinkya Rahane
It is worth noting that Ajinkya Rahane has been another key architect of India’s away dominance in the last decade. Under his tutelage, Team India registered some iconic wins, most notably the historic 2021 series win in Australia.
Rahane has had his moments of brilliance in 85 Tests for India. Overall, he scored 5077 runs at an average of 38.5, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. But the last few years haven’t been kind. Inconsistency with the bat and limited appearances in the playing XI give us a hunch that Rahane is no longer central to India’s Test plans.
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer has picked up some good form of late. He has already impressed the selectors with telling performances recently. With Iyer cementing his place, Rahane’s time in whites may be running out.
