Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 14: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently welcomed Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma to his official residence, Varsha, in a special meeting that celebrated the cricketer’s illustrious Test career and his recent retirement from the longest format of the game.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, CM Fadnavis expressed admiration for Sharma’s contributions to Indian cricket and extended his best wishes for the cricketer’s next chapter.
“It was great to welcome, meet and interact with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma at my official residence Varsha. I extended my best wishes to him on his retirement from Test cricket and for continued success in the next chapter of his journey!” he posted.
Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket after an 11-year-long career spanning 67 matches. Making his Test debut in November 2013 against the West Indies, Rohit scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score, a dominant 212, came against South Africa in 2019.
Nicknamed the ‘Hitman’, Rohit had a dream debut, scoring 177 runs at Eden Gardens. However, between 2013–2018, he struggled for consistency in overseas conditions, particularly in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), which led to limited appearances during that phase.
A turning point in his Test career came in 2019 when he was promoted as an opener and responded with twin centuries against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Under the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) framework, Rohit featured in 40 Tests, amassing 2,716 runs at an average of 41.15 with nine centuries. He remains India’s top run-scorer and century maker in WTC history, and ranks 10th overall in terms of runs scored in the competition.
Rohit also led India to the WTC final against Australia in 2023, where India finished as runners-up.
As he bids adieu to red-ball cricket, tributes from leaders and fans continue to pour in, celebrating his transformation from a middle-order enigma to a dependable Test opener.