With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announcing their Test retirements within days of each other, Indian cricket is staring at the end of a golden era.
For over a decade, these two were more than just run-scorers -- they were leaders, match-winners, and central to the team’s identity in red-ball cricket. Together, they played a combined 190 Tests.
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They shaped India’s batting strategy at home and abroad. Naturally, their simultaneous absence raises a question fans have been asking: When was the last time India played a Test match without either Kohli or Rohit?
Last time India played a Test match without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
To find the answer, one has to go back to January 2022. It was the second Test of the South Africa tour in Johannesburg.
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Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the entire series due to a hamstring injury. Kohli, who was then the Indian Test captain, missed the match due to an upper back spasm.
In their absence, KL Rahul took over the captaincy and scored 50 in the first innings. However, without the duo, India ended up losing the Test by seven wickets.
When did the leadership transition begin?
Kohli returned for the third and final Test of that series. But just days after the match, he stepped down as captain.
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Rohit Sharma took over as India’s full-time Test skipper. Interestingly, both Kohli and Rohit played their final Tests on the 2024–25 tour of Australia, signing off on their own terms.
How do Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma compare as Test legends?
Virat Kohli retired with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests -- only behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar among Indians. He scored 30 centuries, including seven double tons as captain.
Rohit Sharma had an injury-hit red-ball career. He scored 4,301 runs from 67 Tests. His 12 centuries all came in winning causes -- a rare feat among Indian batters.