Rohit Sharma wanted a farewell midway through the England Test series, mirroring MS Dhoni’s 2014 exit. BCCI declined the offer, choosing consistency over sentiment.
New Delhi, May 21, 2025 – Rohit Sharma’s shock retirement from Test cricket may have stemmed from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejecting his proposal to exit the format in a manner similar to MS Dhoni’s farewell in 2014, according to a Sky Sports report.
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Rohit reportedly expressed a desire to play a few Tests in the upcoming England series and retire mid-tour, much like Dhoni did during India’s tour of Australia in 2014. However, sources claim the BCCI turned down the proposal, citing the need for consistency in leadership throughout the five-match series. While Rohit was offered a spot in the squad, it was not as captain—a condition he did not accept, prompting his decision to retire altogether.
His exit was quickly followed by Virat Kohli, further deepening the leadership vacuum in India’s red-ball setup.
Leadership Void and Successor Race
The BCCI selection committee has reportedly held informal talks with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as potential Test captains. While Gill is the frontrunner, internal discussions suggest not all selectors are convinced. One selector reportedly questioned Gill’s spot in the playing XI, suggesting that he might be more suited for the vice-captaincy initially.
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The official squad announcement for the England series is expected around May 23, and until then, speculation around the next Test captain remains high.
Gavaskar Weighs In
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar commented on the issue, saying the IPL offers a vital platform for grooming future leaders. “The pressure in T20 matches is the best training ground for captaincy,” he said, emphasizing the leadership qualities of Gill, Pant, and Shreyas Iyer.
“Gill is always involved, questioning umpires immediately. Pant, from behind the stumps, is equally active. Iyer, too, has shown smart captaincy. All three bring positivity and different shades of leadership seen in Dhoni, Rohit, and Kohli,” Gavaskar added.
With Pant currently captaining LSG and Iyer leading Punjab Kings, the BCCI has several leadership options, but the task of filling the void left by Rohit and Kohli will not be easy.
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Rohit Sharma retirement, MS Dhoni retirement, BCCI selection committee, England Test series 2025, Shubman Gill captaincy, Rishabh Pant vice captain, Kohli retirement, Indian Test cricket, India cricket team future, Gavaskar on captaincy, IPL leadership grooming, Gill vs Pant captaincy