The landscape of Indian Test cricket is undergoing a seismic shift. On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma stunned fans by announcing his retirement from Test cricket via an Instagram story, just as speculation about his Test captaincy was reaching a crescendo. Meanwhile, whispers about Virat Kohli’s own Test retirement have grown louder, with reports confirming that Kohli has informed the BCCI of his desire to step away from the longest format, though the board has urged him to reconsider. As the dust settles on one era and another teeters on the brink, it is the perfect moment to reflect on the captaincy legacies of these two modern greats.
Rohit Sharma’s sudden goodbye and Virat Kohli’s looming farewell
Rohit’s announcement came as an unexpected jolt to the cricketing fraternity. His decision to retire from Test cricket mid-season surprised many, especially since he remains an integral part of India’s limited-overs setup. The timing of his retirement, coinciding with ongoing debates about his leadership and the team’s performance, added to the intrigue. Rohit’s tenure as Test captain spanned 24 matches, during which he experienced both highs and lows, leaving behind a legacy that is still being evaluated.
On the other hand, Kohli’s potential retirement from Test cricket has been the subject of intense speculation for months. Sources close to the player have revealed that Kohli has communicated his desire to step down from the longest format, citing personal reasons and a wish to focus on limited-overs cricket and family commitments. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, has reportedly urged him to reconsider, given the importance of his experience and leadership for the team’s upcoming tours. Kohli’s possible exit would mark the end of an era characterized by aggressive captaincy and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Comparison of Kohli and Rohit’s captaincy records in Test cricket
Test wins as a captain
When it comes to sheer numbers, Kohli stands tall as India’s most successful Test captain. Over 68 matches, he secured 40 victories, suffering 16 losses and 12 draws, which translates to an impressive win percentage of nearly 59%. This record underscores his ability to consistently lead India to triumph, both at home and abroad. Rohit’s captaincy record, though shorter, is respectable in its own right. In 24 matches, he managed to win 12 games, lost 9, and drew 3, resulting in a win percentage of 50%. While this is lower than Kohli’s, it still reflects a positive impact during his stint as captain.
Test wins at home as a captain
Both captains have maintained India’s formidable reputation on home soil, where conditions often favour the hosts. Kohli’s home record is particularly remarkable, with 24 Test wins on Indian pitches, surpassing the previous benchmark set by MS Dhoni. Under Kohli’s leadership, India became nearly unbeatable at home, showcasing a combination of strong bowling attacks and consistent batting performances.
Rohit, despite a shorter tenure, also demonstrated considerable success at home. He led India to 10 wins in 16 home Tests, boasting a win percentage of 62.5% on familiar turf. However, his captaincy was not without blemishes; the 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand was a rare and disappointing setback, only the second such occurrence in India’s Test history. This loss highlighted some of the challenges Rohit faced in maintaining India’s home dominance.
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Test wins on foreign soil
Where Kohli’s captaincy truly shone was in India’s performances overseas. Historically, Indian teams have struggled to win Test series abroad, but Kohli changed that narrative. He led India to 15 Test wins on foreign soil, including historic series victories in Australia and competitive performances in England and South Africa. These wins were not just about numbers; they symbolized India’s evolution into a world-class Test side capable of winning in challenging conditions.
Rohit’s overseas record, while promising, did not reach the same heights. He did secure a notable away series win against Bangladesh, winning 2-0, but lacked the landmark overseas triumphs that defined Kohli’s tenure. His overseas campaigns were marked by fewer victories and some tough losses, reflecting the challenges of leading a team in unfamiliar conditions.
Test series wins of home and away
In terms of Test series wins, Kohli’s leadership has been transformative. He led India to series victories against every major Test nation on home soil, reinforcing India’s dominance in familiar conditions. More impressively, Kohli achieved back-to-back series wins in Australia, the second one was a combined effort where he was absent after the first match due to personal reasons, but a feat unprecedented for an Indian captain. These victories were celebrated as milestones in Indian cricket history and elevated Kohli’s status as a captain who could inspire his team to overcome formidable challenges.
Rohit’s series record is mixed. He oversaw convincing series wins against Sri Lanka at home and Bangladesh away, as well as a hard-fought home series win against Australia. However, his tenure also witnessed a shocking 0-3 home defeat to New Zealand and a 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. These results exposed some vulnerabilities in Rohit’s leadership and the team’s consistency.
The batting prowess of both stars as captains
Kohli’s contribution with the bat while captaining India in Tests is nothing short of legendary. He amassed over 5700 runs at an average exceeding 55, including 20 centuries and seven double hundreds. These numbers not only reflect his technical brilliance but also his ability to shoulder the responsibility of captaincy without compromising his batting performance. Kohli’s innings often came at crucial junctures, inspiring his team to victory.
Rohit, meanwhile, provided valuable runs at the top of the order during his captaincy. Accumulating over 2100 runs at an average around 43, he scored six centuries but did not register any double hundreds as captain. While his batting was instrumental in several key wins, it did not reach the consistent heights Kohli achieved. Nevertheless, Rohit’s elegant stroke play and ability to build innings added stability to the Indian batting lineup.
Kohli’s captaincy redefined Indian Test cricket, blending aggression with ambition and delivering unprecedented overseas success. His personal batting records as captain set benchmarks that may stand for years. Rohit’s era, though shorter and more turbulent, featured moments of brilliance and resilience, but also some unexpected setbacks.
