Follow UsRohit Sharma retired from Test cricket with an average record, way less than what he would have envisioned for himself as a young player growing up in Mumbai, but towards the final stages of his career, he optimised it as an opener to the maximum extent. For a period between 2019 to 2022, he was not just one of the best openers in the world, but also went on to lead India in all three formats.
Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali was all praise for the Mumbaikar, calling him one of the most talented players in the world for a brief while.
“Rohit was a more natural player in terms of like amazing to watch. Like a proper gift given to him. When I say natural, everything looks a lot smoother. He was a top player. There was a period of time where he was probably the most talented player in the world, naturally. Like probably didn’t do the work in terms of fitness and stuff as Virat but still as effective. Would probably hit the ball further,’ Moeen said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
Rohit played his last Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2024 and stood himself down for the Sydney Test owing to bad form. He played the Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai after that, but during the IPL, he announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. He ended with a Test average of 40.57 with 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name.