A week after bidding farewell to Test cricket, Indian batting icon Rohit Sharma met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha. The meeting was a gesture of appreciation for Sharma’s illustrious career in the longest format of the game. The Chief Minister praised Rohit’s achievements and his invaluable contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the red-ball format.
Fadnavis shared pictures of their meeting on social media, extending heartfelt congratulations to the Mumbai-born cricketer for his enduring impact on Indian cricket.
The message in the post said, "It was great to welcome, meet and interact with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma at my official residence Varsha. I extended my best wishes to him on his retirement from Test cricket and for continued success in the next chapter of his journey!
Rohit, 38, recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an end to a 14-year journey that saw him rise from a promising middle-order batter to one of India’s most dependable openers. His retirement announcement came ahead of the team selection for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.
Image: Rohit Sharma/Instagram
Rohit Sharma's Test journey
Rohit made his long-awaited Test debut in 2013, scoring a memorable 177 against the West Indies in Kolkata. Although he faced early inconsistency in the middle order, a major turning point came in 2019 when he was promoted to the opening slot. He flourished in the new role, notching several match-winning innings, including a career-best 212 against South Africa in Ranchi.
Despite a challenging final year in Tests, with underwhelming performances against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, Rohit ended his red-ball career with 4301 runs from 68 matches, averaging 40.57. His record includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with all of his hundreds contributing to Indian victories.
Although he has stepped away from Tests, Rohit will continue to be part of India’s One Day International setup, keeping his cricketing journey alive in the limited-overs format.In a significant moment for Indian cricket, Rohit's announcement was soon followed by that of Virat Kohli, who also retired from Test cricket. With both stalwarts stepping aside, the Indian Test team enters a new chapter.
