Rohit Sharma wanted to play the India vs England Test series? Check details

Rohit Sharma, one of Indian cricket’s modern greats, officially announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7. However, a recent report has revealed that the 38-year-old had originally planned to bow out during India’s upcoming five-match Test series in England, which is set to begin on June 20. His early decision to retire came as a surprise to many, especially given the high-profile nature of the England tour. Rohit's Test career spanned 67 matches, during which he amassed 4,301 runs at a solid average of 40.57. His journey in the longest format had its share of ups and downs, but he eventually established himself as a dependable opener and a match-winner at the top of the order.

Rohit took over the reins of the Indian team across all formats in February 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli as captain. In recent months, however, Rohit began stepping away from some formats, starting with T20 Internationals last year. Suryakumar Yadav has since taken over as India’s T20I skipper. Now, with his retirement from Tests, Rohit will continue to serve Indian cricket in a leadership role solely in One-Day Internationals, where his experience and tactical acumen remain crucial for the team's plans moving forward.

According to a report by Sky Sports, Rohit Sharma initially intended to retire from Test cricket midway through India’s upcoming tour of England, similar to how MS Dhoni had stepped away during a series, handing over leadership to Virat Kohli. However, the selectors had a different vision. They reportedly expressed the need for consistent leadership throughout the five-match series and conveyed to Rohit that while he could remain in the squad, he would not continue as captain. This decision influenced Rohit to bring an immediate end to his red-ball career, choosing to retire ahead of the tour rather than step down partway. The 38-year-old’s sudden exit surprised many, especially given the timing. Just five days later, Virat Kohli, Rohit’s longtime teammate and close friend, also announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of an era for Indian cricket as two stalwarts stepped away from the longest format.

The selectors are yet to reach a consensus on who should succeed Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain. Initially, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah were in contention. However, reports suggest Bumrah has ruled himself out of the captaincy race due to uncertainty over playing all five Tests in the upcoming England tour. As for Gill, one selector reportedly has concerns about handing him the captaincy just yet, citing that he hasn’t fully met expectations or secured a permanent place in the Test XI. It was proposed that a vice-captaincy role might be more suitable for the 25-year-old at this stage. Gill has played 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, with a modest 27.53 average in overseas matches. In contrast, Rishabh Pant has a more impressive Test record — 2,948 runs in 43 matches at an average of 42.11, including centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa.