Indian Test players who debuted before Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and haven’t retired yet

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI)

In May 2025, Indian cricket witnessed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announcing their retirements from Test cricket. Kohli, India’s modern-day great, ended his 14-year red-ball career after last representing the country in the New Year’s Test against Australia on January 3, 2025. Meanwhile, India’s specialist opener and skipper, Rohit, also stepped away after featuring in 67 Test matches.

With both batting stalwarts moving on, many have begun to question the rare group of players who debuted before them and are yet to formally retire. Notably, only two cricketers, Ishant Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara, fall in this category. While neither has donned the Indian whites for a couple of years, both continue to stay active in domestic and franchise cricket.

Ishant Sharma

The tall right-arm pacer, Ishant Sharma, made his Test debut in 2007, four years before Kohli and six years ahead of Rohit. At the age of 18, the Delhi pacer got his maiden national side call-up and made a name for himself instantly. One of his earliest and most iconic moments came during the 2008 Perth Test, where he troubled Australian skipper Ricky Ponting with a spell that still is fresh in many minds.

In his long Test career, Ishant has picked 311 wickets in 105 matches, making him the second Indian pacer after Kapil Dev to play 100 Test matches for India. Though his early years were hampered by injuries and poor form, especially a troubling ankle that required surgery in 2012, post-2014 he became a regular member of the side and excelled under Kohli’s leadership.

He led the attack in India’s historic 2018 Test series win in Australia and produced memorable spells in England, including a match-winning 7/74 at Lord’s in 2014. His ability to bowl long spells made him different on challenging tracks. While he has not played for India since 2021, the 36-year-old continues to play for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and is currently part of the Gujarat Titans squad in the IPL 2025. Notably, he has also turned into a commentator, and his chances of making a comeback are slim.

Cheteshwar Pujara

One of India’s most prolific batters in red-ball cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara has been active since making his Test debut in 2010. The right-handed batter’s ability to stay at the crease for long hours and exhaust the opposition attacks with his old-school style of play saw him achieve numerous heights for India. Pujara had made it into the side when it was in transition phase, just when Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were in the fag end of their careers.

Across 103 Test matches, Pujara has scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60 with 19 centuries and 35 fifties. His best moments came in overseas tours, mainly the Border-Gavaskar Trophies of 2018 and 2020-21. In 2018, he scored 521 runs at an average of 74.42. In 2020-21, he managed 271 runs and took up number of body blows for the nation and played an important role in the series win.

Despite being out of the Indian squad since the World Test Championship 2023 Final, Pujara has kept himself busy by featuring in the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra and has also played County cricket for Sussex. In the 2024–25 Ranji season, he scored 402 runs in 10 innings at an average of 40.20, including a double hundred. While Kohli’s exit has triggered talks of a possible return, especially with the No. 4 spot now vacant.

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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