Test cricket, often described as the purest form of the game, has always been defined by its greats—players who display not just skill, but grit, patience, and resilience across five demanding days. The year 2025 has been particularly emotional for cricket fans, as several stalwarts of the modern era have announced their retirement from the longest format.
These exits haven’t just left gaps in their respective teams; they’ve created a void in the collective memory of fans who grew up watching them dominate the red-ball stage.
From India’s batting spine Cheteshwar Pujara to the firebrand Virat Kohli, and from Sri Lanka’s dependable Dimuth Karunaratne to South Africa’s explosive Heinrich Klaasen, the cricketing fraternity has witnessed the end of multiple remarkable journeys. This listicle looks back at seven Test legends who retired in 2025, their achievements, their legacies, and how their exits will redefine the landscape of world cricket.
1. Cheteshwar Pujara (August 24, 2025)
Cheteshwar Pujara—famously dubbed “India’s wall”—officially retired from all forms of cricket today. With 103 Tests and a robust 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, along with 19 centuries, his contributions to India’s gritty Test successes are immense. A mainstay of the classic, defensive style, Pujara’s exit marks the end of an era built on patience and precision.
2. Virat Kohli (May 12, 2025)
One of the most electrifying batters of this generation, Virat Kohli, concluded his Test journey after 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at 46.85—including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. He retires just shy of the 10,000-run mark but leaves behind a legacy as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer. Kohli’s leadership and intensity redefined Indian Test cricket.
3. Dimuth Karunaratne (February 2025)
Sri Lanka’s dependable opener, Dimuth Karunaratne, decided to walk away from international cricket after his 100th Test during the Australia tour in early 2025. A calm presence at the crease and a stalwart of Sri Lankan leadership, his retirement signals a transition for the island nation’s batting front.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin (Early 2025)
Though not as freshly documented, Ravichandran Ashwin had already stepped away from Test cricket late 2024. With his sharp spin and cerebral approach, Ashwin leaves behind a rich legacy that made him one of India’s most successful bowlers.
5. Rohit Sharma (Early–Mid 2025)
Another pillar of India’s Test batting, Rohit Sharma, quietly announced his retirement from the format just before Kohli, around early to mid-May 2025. His departure, alongside Kohli’s, heralds a dramatic shift in India’s red-ball landscape.
6. Heinrich Klaasen (June 2025)
South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen retired from all international cricket on June 2, 2025. His Test career might have comprised only four matches, but his aggressive batting left an impression in limited opportunities. Klaasen’s farewell highlights that sometimes, impact doesn’t depend on longevity.
7. A Quick Recap – Other Departures
- James Anderson had already retired in mid-2024, ending a monumental career with 704 Test wickets.
- David Warner left the Test arena at the start of 2024, with his SCG farewell marking the close of his innings.
- Matthew Wade exited red-ball cricket in March 2024 after a stellar domestic and multi-format journey.
Though not in 2025, they paved the way for the new wave of retiring legends that year.
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