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After playing more than a decade in whites for India and representing the country in 67 Tests, Rohit Sharma has officially drawn curtains on his red-ball career, concluding a journey that evolved from a middle-order enigma to a world-class Test opener.
Legacy beyond the numbers for India in red-ball cricket
Appointed as India’s full-time Test captain in 2022, Rohit retires with 4301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. But numbers alone don’t capture the transformation Rohit underwent, from battling inconsistency and injuries to emerging as the backbone of India’s top order and a tactical leader with an instinct for seizing key moments. The 38-year-old legacy isn’t just one of runs but of revival his own and that of India’s Test opening setup.
While his on-field statistics are impressive, Rohit’s Test legacy extends beyond numbers and records. He brought a calming presence to the top of the order, led India with dignity in his final years, and inspired confidence among younger players. His personal journey, from a debutant under the humongous presence of MS Dhoni to leading India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, mirrors the evolution of Indian Test cricket itself. Though the white flannels are now off, Rohit’s imprint remains indelible. He walks away not only as a limited-overs icon but also as one of India’s most impactful Test openers in modern times.
5 notable records that define Rohit Sharma’s Test career
1. A winning centurion
- 12 test centuries – All in wins
Each of Rohit Sharma’s 12 Test tons came in Indian victories, a remarkable statistic unmatched by any player with 10+ hundreds. Only Warwick Armstrong (6) and Darren Lehmann (5) also have all of their hundreds in wins, but none match Rohit’s perfect dozen. Nearly 70% of his total Test runs came in Indian victories, a staggering 69.4%, which is among the highest for any player with over 3000 runs. Only two Australians, Adam Gilchrist (77.77%) and Matthew Hayden (71.35%), edge ahead in that regard. Whether at home or abroad, when Rohit delivered, India often triumphed.
2. Dominance as an opener
- 9 centuries as an opener (2019–2025)
Since becoming a full-time opener in 2019, Rohit scored 9 Test centuries , the most by any opener in that period. Only four batters overall have scored more hundreds than him in that time frame, highlighting his consistent dominance at the top.
Also READ: Breakdown of Rohit Sharma’s centuries in Test cricket for India
3. The WTC anchor
- Most runs for India across the first three WTC cycles
With 2716 runs in the WTC cycles, Rohit was India’s leading scorer. His 9 hundreds in WTC Tests are also the most for India, outshining the likes of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill (5 each). His WTC average of 41.15 is only bettered by Yashasvi Jaiswal (52.88).
4. Red-hot form post-2019
- 50.03 average from 2019–2024
From the 2019-20 season to 2023-24, Rohit averaged 50.03, the highest by any Indian batter in that period (min. 25 innings). His form during this stretch placed him among the global elite, with only eight batters worldwide averaging over 50.
5. Converting starts into centuries
- Conversion rate – 52.94% as an opener
Rohit turned 9 out of 16 fifty-plus scores into centuries while opening – a stellar conversion rate of 52.94%. Only Shikhar Dhawan (58.33%) and Dennis Amiss (55%) have done better among openers with 10 or more 50+ scores.
When Rohit went big in whites: Memorable highlights
- 13 sixes vs South Africa, Vizag (2019): Most sixes by a batter in a single Test match.
- 88 sixes in Test career: Second-most for India after Virender Sehwag (90).
- Debut delight: Hundreds in both innings of his debut series vs West Indies in 2013.
- 30 consecutive innings without a single-digit score (2021 – 2023): Longest such streak in Test history. He scored 1401 runs at 50.04, facing over 2600 deliveries during that phase.
- At home, a fortress: Rohit thrived in Indian conditions, scoring 10 centuries at home, all during India’s unprecedented streak of 18 consecutive Test series wins. His 2444 runs at 56.83 in that period were bettered only by Virat Kohli’s 60.12.
Also READ: Ritika Sajdeh’s heartbroken reaction to Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement goes viral
