Rohit Sharma bid adieu to Test cricket last Wednesday, May 7. Rohit, who was India’s captain, wasn’t part of BCCI’s plans in the format, given his age and lack of runs for a while. Notably, Rohit was set to be dropped for the tour of England next month as the selectors and team management also wanted a new captain.

Rohit played a total of 67 Test matches for India, scoring 4301 runs at an average of 40.57. In addition to 12 Test tons, the veteran batter smashed 18 fifties with the best score of 212.

Rohit played in the middle order at various positions before being promoted as a designated opener in October 2019. A classy player of his calibre was a joy to watch. A complete white-ball star, Rohit did a good job in the longest format for India.

Here we present a complete analysis of Rohit’s career in this format for India.

Rohit delivered having been made to wait for his chance

Rohit made his ODI debut for India back in 2007. However, he didn’t manage to get into the longest format until November 6, 2013, against the West Indies. As per ESPNcricinfo, by the time he made his debut in Tests, he had already played 106 ODIs, scoring 3049 runs at 36.73. He had also played 36 20-over format matches until then for India at 28.36. Rohit was made to wait as India’s middle and opening departments were filled. When he did make his debut, it was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series. Rohit shone in his debut series, hammering 177 in his maiden outing at Eden Gardens before smashing 111* in the 2nd clash at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Notably, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly were the other two Indian batters to score centuries in their first two Tests.

Rohit fared better as an opener

Rohit was sent to open by the team management in October 2019 in a series against South Africa. Before that, he was used in numerous positions. He played 5 innings at number three in the year 2015, scoring 107 runs at just 21.40. In the same year, he played one inning at number 4, scoring 4 runs. In the 5th position from 2013 to 2018, he smashed 437 runs in 16 innings at 29.13 (50s: 3). Number six was a favourable batting position. He smashed over 1000 runs in this number, hitting three tons and half a dozen fifties.

Rohit went on to play 38 matches as an opener. It was the scent of the new ball that helped him dictate. Rohit, who was already firing on all cylinders in white-ball cricket as an opener, got the opening slot based on the same. India wanted someone with the mentality of scoring from the outset. He amassed 9 hundreds and 8 fifties, scoring 2697 runs as an opener. He also hit 56 sixes while opening.

Rohit was supreme in his first match as an opener. He scored twin tons, posting 176 and 127 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Notably, Rohit became the first batter to score twin centuries in the first Test as an opener. He wasn’t done there. He hit a double-century as well in the Ranchi Test against the Proteas.

Rohit produced the goods at home

Rohit was successful in India’s home matches. 34 of his 67 games for India came at home. He scored 2535 runs at a staggering 51.73. He creamed his way through 10 tons and 8 fifties, hitting 55 sixes along the way. He struck at 65.77.

In away matches (home of the opposition), he scored 1644 runs at 31.01. He hit 10 fifties and two tons. A further 122 of his runs came at neutral venues from 2 matches at 30.50.

Rohit delivered in winning causes for the team

Rohit was at his best, and the numbers looked solid when India won. In the 67 matches he played, India pocketed 36 wins. Across 59 innings in these wins, Rohit scored close to 3000 runs. He amassed 2985 runs at a whopping 57.40. All 12 of his centuries came in a winning cause, which is extraordinary. He also slammed 9 fifties and smashed a total of 66 sixes.

Do you know? Rohit averaged only 18.60 when India lost. Across 20 matches (40 innings), he hit only 3 fifties.

Rohit shone under Virat Kohli’s captaincy

Virat Kohli led India from 2014 to 2022. It was in 2022 itself that Rohit took over the reins from Kohli. Notably, from 2014 to 2021, under Kohli’s leadership, Rohit featured in 33 matches. He averaged 48.91, scoring 2397 runs from 56 innings. He smashed 6 tons and 12 fifties under Kohli’s leadership. 54 of Rohit’s sixes came under Kohli’s captaincy.

Rohit was an able leader

Rohit did a fair job as captain and led India to the 2021-23 final of the World Test Championship. Rohit led India in 24 Test matches, winning 12, losing nine, and drawing three. He scored 1254 runs as captain at an average of 30.58, smashing 4 tons and 4 fifties. His 24 matches as skipper see him occupy the 10th spot among Indians with the most games led. He owns the 5th-most wins as captain among Indians. His win percentage of 50 is only next to Kohli’s 58.82 among players with 10-plus matches, led among Indian players.

Pacers got Rohit 64 times

Pacers dismissed Rohit 64 times from 111 innings. He scored 2392 runs at 37.37 against pace. Notably, right-arm pacers got him 61 times. Meanwhile, spinners got Rohit 42 times from 81 innings. He averaged 45.35.

Rohit averaged 28.17 in SENA

In SENA nations, Rohit averaged 28.17. In 25 matches, he managed 1268 runs. He scored one hundred in England and hit six fifties overall. Rohit’s bulk of runs came in Asia. He smashed 2743 runs at 48.98. He hit 20 fifty-plus scores in Asia (100s: 10, 50s: 10).