Several senior Indian cricketers are approaching the twilight of their international careers. This year, a few legends have already announced their retirements. Batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket in May, having already stepped away from T20Is last year, leaving them active only in ODIs.
Recently, Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara retired from all forms of cricket, while Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December last year, has also stepped away from the IPL and Indian cricket entirely.
Although some veteran players continue to feature in domestic cricket and the IPL, they have long been overlooked for national selection. As a result, their retirements could be imminent. With that in mind, here’s a look at five Indian cricketers who might announce their retirement soon.
Cricketers Who Could Retire Soon
Cricketers: Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane, the experienced Mumbai batter, has been striving for a comeback in India’s Test team, putting in consistent performances in domestic cricket. However, at 37, his chances of returning to the national side appear slim, with selectors moving on to younger talents. Rahane last represented India in a Test against the West Indies in July 2023. Following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian Test team has undergone a transition, with several young batsmen establishing themselves. In this scenario, Rahane may soon consider retirement.
Ishant Sharma
Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, 36, has been absent from the national Test squad for some time, with his last appearance coming against New Zealand in 2021. Though he remains active in the IPL with Gujarat Titans, opportunities with the Indian team have been scarce. Given this prolonged absence, Ishant could announce his retirement in the near future.
Cricketers: Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav, a seasoned right-arm pacer with 57 Tests to his name, last featured in India’s side during the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 final against Australia. With younger pacers like Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana making their mark, Umesh’s return to the Test team seems unlikely. At 37, he might soon bring his international career to a close.
Jaydev Unadkat
Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat grabbed headlines in 2022 when he made a Test comeback after a decade, but inconsistent performances saw him lose his spot again. The 33-year-old last played a Test against West Indies in 2023. With emerging pacers excelling in the team, Unadkat’s chances of a return are minimal, and retirement could be on the horizon.
Cricketers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one of India’s most successful white-ball pacers, featuring in 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is. However, the 35-year-old has not played an international match since the T20I series against New Zealand in November 2022. Although active in the IPL, a national comeback seems highly unlikely, making retirement a probable next step.
