The cricket world is buzzing with surprise after five legend players announced their retirement from different formats of the game within just 35 days. This drastic shift has left fans stunned, wondering what’s next for their favorite teams.
Let’s start with Nicolas Pooran, the West Indian batting sensation. At 29, he shocked everyone by quitting international cricket. Pooran shared the news through an emotional Instagram post, leaving fans heartbroken. He played 61 T20 matches and 106 ODIs, scoring over 4000 runs.
For Indian fans, this period has been emotionally challenging. The team faced two significant blows with captain Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement from Test cricket. Rohit, 38, had led India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup before quitting the T20 format. He played 67 Test matches, scoring 4301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.
Soon after, another Indian batting legend, Virat Kohli, also bid farewell to Test cricket. This sudden decision came just as the team was about to leave for their England tour. Kohli played 123 Test matches, scoring 9230 runs with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He had already retired from T20 format in June 2024 and will now focus on ODIs.
Other international stars who joined the retirement bandwagon include South African wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who quit international cricket in June 2025. Klaasen, 33, played 60 ODIs and 58 T20 matches, prioritizing family and franchise cricket.
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also announced his retirement from ODIs at 36, citing back injuries and workload issues. Maxwell played 149 ODIs, scoring 3990 runs with 4 centuries and 23 half-centuries.
These surprise retirements within a short span have raised questions about the changing landscape of cricket. It will be interesting to see which young players step up to fill the void left by these legends and become the stars of the next decade.
Retirement details at a glance:
- Nicolas Pooran: Quit international cricket at 29
- Rohit Sharma: Retired from Test cricket at 38
- Virat Kohli: Bid farewell to Test cricket
- Heinrich Klaasen: Quit international cricket in June 2025
- Glenn Maxwell: Retired from ODIs at 36