As Rohit Sharma bids farewell to Test cricket, let’s revisit his top three innings as a Test opener.
Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket marks the end of a chapter that was as transformative as it was triumphant. Known for his lazy elegance and timing in white-ball formats, Rohit had to wait longer than most to find his place in the Test XI. But once he was promoted as an opener in 2019, there was no looking back.
He ends his red-ball journey as one of only 11 India batters to score over 2000 runs as a Test opener. What made his contributions special was not just the volume of runs, but the timing, match situations, leadership, and the impact of his innings on India’s fortunes. As the curtains fall on his Test career, we revisit Rohit Sharma’s three finest knocks as a Test opener.
1. 212 vs South Africa, Ranchi (2019): A breakout innings
Rohit Sharma‘s Test revival story began in earnest during the 2019 home series against South Africa. A mainstay in ODIs and T20Is, he was finally given the responsibility to open the innings in Tests and he responded in style.
After notching up twin centuries in the first Test at Visakhapatnam, Rohit capped off the series with a breathtaking 212 in Ranchi — his highest Test score. The innings, which came off just 256 deliveries, was a mix of grace and aggression. He struck 28 fours and 6 sixes, dictating terms against both pace and spin with supreme control.
India won the match by an innings and 202 runs, sealing the series 3-0. Rohit was named Player of the Match for his double century and deservedly took home the Player of the Series award, having scored 529 runs in just four innings. This series not only gave India a new Test opener but also gave Rohit a second wind in his red-ball career.
Read More: Rohit to retire from Tests; Who are the likely contenders for captaincy spot?
2. 161 vs England, Chennai (2021): Taming the turning track
India were under pressure after a shock defeat in the first Test of the 2021 series against England at Chepauk. The second Test pitch in Chennai was a turning minefield from Day 1 — a nightmare for most batters. But Rohit Sharma turned it into his playground.
On a surface where the ball spat and spun from the first session, Rohit produced a batting masterclass. His 161 off 231 balls was an innings of great skill and superior match awareness. He struck 18 fours and two sixes, using his feet expertly to counter spin and put pressure on the England bowlers. The knock was not only fluent but also full of character, especially as it came when others around him found scoring extremely difficult.
Ravichandran Ashwin also scored a century in the match, but it was Rohit’s innings that set the tone for a crushing win. The hosts went on to win the series 3-1 and booked their place in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final. For Rohit, this was his first Test hundred since the Ranchi double ton — a reminder that he was just as valuable in pressure situations as he was on flat tracks.
Read More: Team India’s schedule in remainder of 2025
3. 127 vs England, The Oval (2021): Overseas redemption
Perhaps the most satisfying of Rohit Sharma’s Test centuries came at the Oval during the fourth Test of the England tour in 2021. Coming into the series, Rohit had never scored a Test century outside India — and critics were beginning to question his overseas credentials.
With the five-match series locked at 1-1, and England holding a first-innings lead of 99 runs, Rohit stepped up in the second innings to play the most significant overseas knock of his career. On a pitch that still offered movement and bounce, Rohit was composed, watchful, and calculated in his shot-making.
He reached his century with a six down the ground off Moeen Ali — a shot symbolic of his dominance that day. His 127 off 256 balls included 14 boundaries and one six, and it set the foundation for India’s historic Test win at the Oval — their first at the venue in 50 years. It wasn’t just a century; it was redemption, authority, and brilliance rolled into one.
As he bows out from Test cricket, Rohit leaves behind a template for modern-day opening. One that values technique, temperament, and timely aggression. Indian cricket will miss his calming presence and his funny sense of humour on the ground at the top, but his knocks will continue to echo as some of the finest chapters in India’s Test history.
Read More: Home whitewash at the hands of NZ, first BGT loss in 10 years: Time up for Gautam Gambhir in Tests?
