Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Rohit Sharma's Test Legacy Defined by 2019 Role Shift from Middle Order to Opener

Guided by Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli, Sharma's move to the top of the order transformed his Test career, culminating in his retirement with 4,301 runs.

Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7
Rohit Sharma plays a shot | Image: AP

Overview

  • Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7, 2025, with 4,301 runs in 67 matches, including 2,697 runs as an opener at an average of 42.08.
  • The decision to promote Sharma as a Test opener in 2019 was initiated by then-coach Ravi Shastri after his record-breaking 2019 ODI World Cup performance.
  • Sharma scored nine of his 12 Test centuries as an opener, including a century in his debut match at the top of the order against South Africa.
  • Shastri, in collaboration with then-captain Virat Kohli, believed Sharma’s success in ODIs stemmed from batting early and applied that insight to Test cricket.
  • Sharma's technical adjustments, including improved ball-leaving and soft-handed play, were pivotal to his success in challenging conditions like England.