Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli (Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.com)
2025 has been a strange year for cricket fans around the world. There have been some memorable cricket matches, but lot of big players have also decided to hang their boots. Some of them have retired from only one format while others have decided to leave international cricket completely.
Thus, in this article we will try to form an XI of retired players in 2025. The list includes players from different nationalities, and there are also players who are active in one or two formats, but have decided to hang boots in other. It is also not based on the set role of the players as it normally is in an XI for a cricket match.
Openers
Rohit Sharma And Tamim Iqbal
Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7 and will open the innings for the retired XI as well given his quality and exploits at the top of the order over the years.
Tamim Iqbal will accompany Rohit after Bangladesh legend's retirement from all formats in January 2025. He served Bangladesh with great distinction and is the second-leading run-scorer for his country across formats. There were also options of Martin Guptill and Dimuth Karunaratne who also retired in 2025, but they have not been included to bring some balance in the side.
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Middle Order
Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Mushfiqur Rahim, Heinrich Klaasen
Virat Kohli, will take the all-important number 3 position after his Test retirement on May 12. He will go down as one of the finest Indian batters and captain in the purest format. The Delhi boy will also lead the retirement XI of 2025. Steve Smith, the legendary Australian star, also decided to hang his boots from ODI cricket after Champions Trophy 2025 will follow Kohli in the batting order.
Surprisingly, Heinrich Klaasen, decided to retire from international cricket on June 2 despite being at the height of his powers. He would be the wicketkeeping option in the side along with Mushfiqur Rahim, the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh across formats. Rahim, just like Steve Smith, retired from ODIs after Champions Trophy 2025.
All-Rounders
Mahmudullah, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Rishi Dhawan
The playing XI also includes all-rounders like Mahmudullah and Rishi Dhawan. Both of them have retired from all formats. Mahmudullah has been one of the pillars of Bangladesh cricket while Rishi Dhawan has been included for the bowling option he provides, and was a consistent performer in the Indian domestic circuit.
The Australian duo of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell also feature in the XI and have both retired from ODI cricket. They are match-winners on their day, and can win matches single-handedly.
Bowler
Varun Aaron
There is only one pure bowler in the list and he is Varun Aaron from India. The pacer announced his retirement in June this year and ended his career with 29 international wickets.
Retired XI Of 2025
Rohit Sharma, Tamim Iqbal, Virat Kohli (C), Steve Smith, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Rishi Dhawan, Varun Aaron
 "Aashay Chopade")
