Year 2025 will be remembered as a defining year in world cricket — a year that marked the end of an era. Several giants of the game across all three formats bid farewell to international cricket, leaving fans emotional and teams worldwide entering a phase of transition. While some icons retired from all formats, others chose to step away only from select formats. From India’s biggest names Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Australia’s fiery pacer Mitchell Starc, the year saw many greats call time on their illustrious careers.
Retirements From All Formats
A number of renowned cricketers announced retirement from Tests, ODIs, and T20Is altogether. The list features India’s modern-day wall, Cheteshwar Pujara, and West Indies’ explosive batter Nicholas Pooran, alongside several other veterans.
Full list of players who retired from all formats in 2025:
- Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
- Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
- Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)
- Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
- Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
- Varun Aaron (India)
- Wriddhiman Saha (India)
- Asif Ali (Pakistan)
These names represent a generation of cricketers who were match-winners for their respective countries and shaped the sport over the last decade.
Players Who Retired From Select Formats
Several superstars chose to step back from only certain formats while continuing in others. This category includes global icons such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc.
India
- Rohit Sharma: Retired from T20Is and later from Test cricket; will continue in ODIs.
- Virat Kohli: Retired from T20Is and subsequently from Test cricket; will now play only ODIs.
- Ishant Sharma: Announced retirement from T20Is; now fully retired from all formats.
Australia
- Glenn Maxwell: Retired from ODIs; available for Tests and T20Is.
- Marcus Stoinis: Retired from ODIs; continues in T20Is and other formats.
- Mitchell Starc: Retired from T20Is; will continue to play Tests and ODIs.
Sri Lanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne: Retired from Test cricket; remains active in white-ball formats.
New Zealand
- Ross Taylor: Retired from T20Is; now completely retired from all formats.
Bangladesh
- Mushfiqur Rahim: Stepped away from T20Is; now retired from international cricket in all formats.
South Africa
- Rassie van der Dussen: Retired from ODI cricket.
Impact on World Cricket
The retirement of so many senior players has had a significant effect on global cricket. Multiple teams are now going through rebuilding and transition phases, especially India, whose Test performance dipped amid the shift. Nations across the cricketing fraternity are reshaping their squads, identifying new leaders, and preparing fresh combinations to fill the void left by long-serving stalwarts.
Year 2025 will indeed be remembered as a moment of transformation — a year when legends walked away and a new generation stepped forward to redefine the future of the sport.
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