"Oh is it?" - Ajinkya Rahane expresses shock as reporter breaks news of Rohit Sharma's Test retirement after KKR vs CSK IPL 2025 match

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed surprise when asked about Rohit Sharma's Test retirement after the IPL 2025 clash against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, May 7. Rohit announced his retirement from Tests a minute before the start of the CSK-KKR match on his Instagram handle.

Incidentally, his last red-ball game was for Mumbai in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, with Rahane as captain. Rohit finished his Test career with 4,301 runs in 67 matches and an average of 40.57.

When asked about Rohit's Test retirement during the post-match press conference, a surprised Rahane said (via NDTV):

"Oh, is it? I didn't know. I'm actually shocked. I was playing a game, so I wasn't aware. But I just want to wish him the best. He started in the middle order at No. 5 or 6 and then opened the innings. The way he adapted was amazing. He always looked to take on bowlers and play with freedom - that's something he wanted others to do as well."

He added:

"I'll probably call him once I get back to the dressing room or send him a message. But I definitely want to congratulate him on a fantastic Test career."

While the tributes for Rohit poured in after his announcement, things went awry simultaneously for Rahane and his KKR side. They suffered a heartbreaking two-wicket defeat to CSK in the final over that almost eliminated them from playoff contention.

"Been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites" - Rohit Sharma

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Rohit Sharma expressed his gratitude for representing India in Tests for over a decade while announcing his retirement through his Instagram handle. Batting aside, the 38-year-old captained India in the red-ball format for over two years, leading them to 12 wins in 24 outings.

"Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It's been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format," read Rohit's statement (via Cricbuzz).

With Rohit's retirement, Team India will have a new captain and opener when they play their next Test series in England, starting June 20.

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Venkatesh has been writing cricket news, listicle and feature articles for Sportskeeda for over a year. He loves cricket because of the diversity of the playing fields and its unparalleled nuances, which no other sport presents. He also enjoys the analytical and quantitative side of the sport, which originates from his MBA degree and 10 years of experience in the IT industry in companies like Infosys, Atos and TCS.

Venkatesh ensures proper research from reliable sources and social media trends to gather information, and adds his own dash of creativity to create insightful content.

He started watching cricket in the late 1990s, having been impressed with South Africa and New Zealand’s gentleman-like attitude. Domestically, he supports the Chennai Super Kings for their ability to bring the best out of their players owing to a friendly and conducive team environment.

He admires three cricketers the most – Brian Lara for his batting style, AB de Villiers for changing the paradigm of batting and MS Dhoni for his unique cerebral approach to field placings and batting. Along with cricket, Venkatesh also enjoys watching and playing tennis and basketball. In his free time, he finds pleasure in singing and watching movies and web series.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran