Rohit Sharma, the Test player, took his time. Then made it count

The Hindu

17-05-2025

'I understand that I haven't done justice to my potential and abilities. It's okay. I want to stay positive and keep looking forward to every challenge that lies ahead.'
These words, spoken in October 2014 during an interview at the Cricket Club of India for ESPNcricinfo — my then employer — were Rohit Sharma's response to a question about having played just seven Tests in seven years since his international debut.
Despite being one of the all-time greats in limited-overs cricket, Rohit's record in the whites has long been debated. Has he truly done justice to his talent in the Test arena? That question has followed him ever since his name first emerged on the maidans of Mumbai more than two decades ago, when he was seen as a potential torchbearer of the city's rich batting legacy.
His retirement from Test cricket earlier this month reignited that very debate — among connoisseurs, critics and fans alike.
The writing had been on the wall since he sat out the deciding Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the New Year week. Perhaps age had caught up, evident in his movement. Or maybe he had gone too far in trying to lead by example, pushing India's batting approach in white-ball formats into red-ball territory.
In that sense, the last five months of his career mirrored the long wait he endured after his First-Class debut. Back then, the questions were 'when will it happen?' Later, they became 'why isn't it happening?' and then 'will it ever happen?' The doubts of 2025 weren't very different from those between 2006 and 2013 — especially from 2010 to 2013.
His Test career can be viewed in three distinct phases. The first was the frustrating wait for a debut, made more painful after he injured himself minutes before the toss in what would have been his first Test in Nagpur against South Africa in 2010. It would be three more years before he got his chance against West Indies. During that phase, in various conversations — formal and informal — you could sense the weight of the 'mera number kab aayega' (when will my turn come) mindset.
When the opportunity finally came, he made an instant impact with consecutive hundreds in his first two Tests. But the next five years saw him struggle to hold down a place. Injuries and India's preference for five specialist bowlers meant Rohit was frequently in and out of the side. That stretch also saw him competing with his close friend Ajinkya Rahane for a middle-order slot — Rahane often getting the nod.
It wasn't until 2019, when then-coach Ravi Shastri promoted him to open in Tests, that Rohit finally found stability. Contrary to the widespread belief that he was merely a flat-track bully at home, Rohit excelled for almost five years. During a period when most Indian batters were seeing their averages dip, Rohit averaged over 50 in the 32 Tests he played in that time. No other opener scored more centuries during that stretch. But the end came swiftly. The final few months saw a marked decline, and his time at the top quietly came to a close.
Rohit belongs to a generation — alongside Virat Kohli, Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja — that grew up dreaming of the Test cap. And though his body didn't always cooperate at the peak of his Test career, Rohit the batter still scaled some significant highs. He has every reason to walk away satisfied.
Beyond statistics, Rohit has also had to contend with the recurring tag of being a 'gifted' or 'naturally talented' cricketer.
In that same 2014 interview — just weeks before his record-breaking 264 in an ODI against Sri Lanka — he responded sharply when asked about this label. With his trademark casual flick of the forearm to his forehead, he countered the idea. 'I wasn't gifted,' he said. 'Everything has come through sheer hard work.' He spoke about how much effort it took to make his batting look effortless— especially after transitioning from being an off-spinner.
His on-field nonchalance may sometimes be mistaken for swagger, even a ' tapori' vibe in Mumbai cricket slang. But those close to Rohit know his emotional core has remained intact across phases of his career.
Even when competing with Rahane for a place in the XI, their friendship never wavered. After being called up as Yuvraj Singh's replacement for the 2011 West Indies Test series, Rohit told me how difficult it was to take the spot of someone he considered an older brother — even as he longed for that elusive debut.
In 2025, the roles had reversed. Rohit had become the elder statesman, looking out for the next generation — firm, yet caring.
As a captain in Tests, Rohit may not have had the same impact he did in limited-overs formats. But for a boy from Borivali who once dreamed more about donning India's whites than owning luxury cars, 67 Test caps and five years of elite batting represent a fulfilling journey.
Whether his Test career is seen as a case of glass half full or half empty will remain a matter of perspective. What's certain is that Rohit gave it enough for the conversation to be worth having.
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