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When Cricket Legends Walk Away: 5 Indians Who Never Got Their Test Farewell

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli [Source: @Paulmcveigh77, @CyrusDhoni07/x.com]MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli [Source: @Paulmcveigh77, @CyrusDhoni07/x.com]

Cricket runs deep in India's blood. When legends retire, fans expect grand farewells – packed stadiums, emotional speeches, guard of honors. But cricket, like life, doesn't always deliver perfect endings. Here's a look at five Indian cricketing giants who never got that final Test match to say goodbye.

5. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag playing Test for India [Source: @talksports45/x.com]Virender Sehwag playing Test for India [Source: @talksports45/x.com]

Remember when Virender Sehwag used to walk out to bat? Heart in mouth stuff for bowlers worldwide. The guy smashed over 8,500 Test runs, hammered two triple hundreds, and changed how opening batters approach the game forever. Then 2012 happened, a rough patch against England, the selectors swung the axe, and that was it. No farewell, no standing ovation, just cricket's most fearless opener fading into the sunset. Years later, he officially retired, but fans never got to say goodbye properly.

4. VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid for India [Source: @BCCI/x.com]VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid for India [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

Talk about timing! VVS Laxman had perfect timing with his batting but chose a strange moment to retire. Right before a home series against New Zealand in 2012, where he was actually picked to play, he called it quits. Just like that! The guy who tortured Australia with that unforgettable 281 at Eden Gardens never took a final lap around the field. For a player who saved India countless times, his exit was oddly quiet. Maybe that suited his personality, but cricket fans deserved more.

3. MS Dhoni

One of India's most successful captains made a characteristically unexpected exit from Test cricket. In December 2014, during the Australia tour, MS Dhoni announced his retirement after the Melbourne Test, stunning players and fans alike. There was no farewell lap, no guard of honor—just a simple press release marking the end of his 90-Test career. The man who led India to the pinnacle of Test rankings departed the format with the same understated elegance that defined his leadership.

2. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma for India [Source: @MumbaiCricAssoc/x.com]Rohit Sharma for India [Source: @MumbaiCricAssoc/x.com]

On 7th May 2025, India's captain shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket. After a challenging Australian tour where he managed just 31 runs in three Tests, Rohit Sharma ended his red-ball career shortly after leading India to Champions Trophy glory. Despite playing 67 Tests and scoring over 4,300 runs, the 'Hitman' exited the stage without a ceremonial farewell.

1. Virat Kohli

Following his captain by just days, Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025. After 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, and 30 centuries, one of the most influential figures in modern cricket walked away without a ceremonial final match. The man who championed Test cricket's importance and led India to unprecedented overseas success bid farewell through social media rather than receiving the grand send-off his contributions warranted.

Conclusion

These abrupt departures remind us that even in a sport steeped in tradition, endings aren't always scripted. For these five legends, the final chapter of their Test careers came without the customary farewell, leaving fans to celebrate their legacies through memories rather than a final standing ovation.