The year 2025 was full of extravaganza cricketing events all across the globe, with three ICC events and as many Asian multi-nation events taking place.
India showcased its dominance in white-ball cricket while South Africa stamped their authority in Tests, winning the World Test Championship and then defeating India in their home for the first time in 25 years. But apart from thrilling encounters and historic feats, the cricketing world saw retirements in plenty.
As we usher into a new year, let’s take a look at the players who hung up their boots in 2025.
Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma (Test Cricket)
The biggest shocker of the year was the stalwarts of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, calling it a time in Test cricket. On May 7, Rohit, after representing India in 67 Test matches, announced his retirement via Instagram story. Five days later, Kohli shared an emotional post on Instagram, dropping the bombshell. Rohit scored 4,301 runs with 12 centuries, while Kohli retired with 9,230 runs at 46.85, including 30 centuries and seven double hundreds in 123 matches.
Martin Guptill (All formats)
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill announced his international retirement on January 8, 2025. Debuting in 2009, he played 198 ODIs, 122 T20Is and 47 Tests. Guptill finished as New Zealand’s highest T20I run-scorer and third-highest in ODIs, amassing 23 international centuries before his last appearance in October 2022.
Varun Aaron (All formats)
Jharkhand pacer Varun Aaron retired from representative cricket on January 10, 2025. Between 2011 and 2015, he played nine Tests and nine ODIs for India, taking 29 wickets. Known for extreme pace early in his career, injuries hampered his progress. Aaron finished with over 400 wickets across domestic formats.
Tamim Iqbal (All formats)
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal retired from international cricket on January 10, 2025. Making his debut in 2007, he played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20Is, scoring 15,249 international runs. One of Bangladesh’s most influential batters, Tamim, ended as the country’s second-highest run-scorer across formats.
Shapoor Zadran (All formats)
Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran announced his international retirement on January 31, 2025. His last appearance came in March 2020. Famous for his role in Afghanistan’s historic 2015 World Cup win over Scotland, Zadran played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is, claiming 80 wickets in international cricket.
Wriddhiman Saha (All formats)
Wriddhiman Saha retired from all forms of cricket after the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season ended on February 1. Debuting internationally in 2010, Saha played 40 Tests, scoring 1,353 runs. Often a backup to MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant, he earned global recognition as one of the finest wicket-keepers.
Marcus Stoinis (ODIs)
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis retired from ODI cricket on February 6, 2025. Since debuting in 2015, he played 71 ODIs, scoring 1,495 runs and taking 48 wickets. A member of Australia’s 2023 World Cup-winning squad, Stoinis’ career-best 146* came against New Zealand in 2017.
Dimuth Karunaratne (All formats)
Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne retired from international cricket in February 2025 after his 100th Test. He represented Sri Lanka in 100 Tests and 50 ODIs, scoring 7,222 and 1,316 runs respectively. A dependable top-order batter, Karunaratne struck 16 Test centuries and one ODI hundred during his career.
Steve Smith (ODIs)
Steve Smith retired from ODI cricket after Australia’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final loss to India. Over a 15-year career, Smith played 170 ODIs, scoring 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28 with 12 centuries. Initially a leg-spinner, he evolved into one of Australia’s most reliable middle-order batters.
Mushfiqur Rahim (ODIs)
Veteran Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim retired from ODI cricket following the team’s Champions Trophy 2025 exit. Debuting in 2006, he played 274 ODIs, scoring 7,795 runs with nine centuries. His highest score of 144 came against Sri Lanka in 2018, finishing second on Bangladesh’s all-time ODI run list.
Mahmudullah (All formats)
Mahmudullah announced his retirement from international cricket after Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy 2025 exit. Having quit Tests in 2021, he continued ODIs and T20Is till 2025. He played 50 Tests, 239 ODIs and 141 T20Is, and holds the record for most ODI World Cup centuries by a Bangladeshi.
Glenn Maxwell (ODIs)
Glenn Maxwell retired from ODI cricket on June 2, 2025, citing fitness concerns ahead of the 2027 World Cup. He played 149 ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs at a strike rate of 126.70. A two-time World Cup winner, Maxwell’s unbeaten double century against Afghanistan in 2023 remains iconic.
Heinrich Klaasen (All formats)
South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen retired from international cricket on June 2, 2025. Having already quit Tests in 2024, he stepped away from ODIs and T20Is as well. Klaasen played 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is, scoring 2,141 and 1,000 runs respectively, with all four international centuries coming in ODIs.
Piyush Chawla (All formats)
Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla retired from all cricket on June 6, 2025. He played three Tests, 25 ODIs and seven T20Is for India. Part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squads, Chawla concluded a long career spanning international and domestic cricket.
Nicholas Pooran (International cricket)
Nicholas Pooran shocked the cricket world by retiring from international cricket on June 9, 2025, aged just 29. Representing the West Indies from 2016 to 2024, he played 61 ODIs and 106 T20Is, scoring 4,258 runs. Pooran continues to feature actively in franchise leagues worldwide.
Angelo Mathews (Test cricket)
Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews retired from Test cricket in June 2025 after the Galle Test against Bangladesh. Over a 16-year career, Mathews played 119 Tests, scoring 8,214 runs with 16 centuries. He finished as Sri Lanka’s third-highest Test run-scorer before stepping away from the longest format.
Peter Moor (All formats)
Peter Moor retired from international cricket in July 2025. One of few players to represent two nations in Tests, he played for Zimbabwe and later Ireland. Moor featured in 15 Tests, 49 ODIs and 21 T20Is, scoring 1,925 international runs before retiring at the age of 34.
Rishi Dhawan (White-ball cricket)
Rishi Dhawan became the first Indian cricketer to officially retire from limited-overs cricket in 2025. The 34-year-old played three ODIs and one T20I in 2016, taking two wickets. A stalwart for Himachal Pradesh, he captained them to the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in 2021-22 and will continue playing First-Class cricket.
Andre Russell (All formats)
Andre Russell retired from international cricket in July 2025 after his final match against Australia in Jamaica. Debuting in 2010, Russell played 56 ODIs and 85 T20Is, contributing over 2,000 runs and 131 wickets. He was a key member of West Indies’ T20 World Cup-winning sides in 2012 and 2016.
Cheteshwar Pujara (All formats)
Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement on August 24, 2025. India’s Test specialist played 103 Tests and five ODIs, scoring 7,195 Test runs. Renowned for his resilience, Pujara played defining roles in India’s historic Test series wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Mitchell Starc (T20I cricket)
Mitchell Starc retired from T20I cricket in September 2025 to allow Australia to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Playing 65 T20Is since debuting in 2012, Starc took 79 wickets and finished as Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format. He continues in Tests and ODIs.
Asif Ali (International cricket)
Pakistan batter Asif Ali retired from international cricket in September 2025. Between 2018 and 2023, he played 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is, scoring 382 and 577 runs respectively. Known for his aggressive style, Asif maintained a T20I strike rate of 133.87 before stepping away.
Usman Shinwari (All formats)
Pakistan fast bowler Usman Shinwari retired from international cricket on September 9, 2025. He represented Pakistan in one Test, 17 ODIs and 16 T20Is, taking 48 wickets overall. Shinwari last played international cricket in 2019 and went out of national contention before announcing retirement at 31.
Chris Woakes (All formats)
England all-rounder Chris Woakes retired from international cricket on September 29, 2025. Debuting in 2011, he played 62 Tests, 122 ODIs and 33 T20Is. A World Cup winner in 2019 and 2022, injuries ruled him out of future plans, prompting his retirement.
Kane Williamson (T20I cricket)
Kane Williamson retired from T20I cricket on November 2, 2025, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He played 93 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 2,575 runs with 18 half-centuries. Williamson continues to represent the BlackCaps in Tests and ODIs, focusing on long-term team balance.
Mohit Sharma (All formats)
Mohit Sharma retired from international cricket on December 3, 2025. Rising to prominence after IPL 2013, he played 26 ODIs and eight T20Is for India. Mohit featured in the 2015 World Cup squad, but last represented India in 2015, bringing an end to his international journey.
Krishnappa Gowtham (All formats)
Krishnappa Gowtham retired from all cricket on December 22, 2025. A Karnataka stalwart, he took 394 wickets and scored 2,783 runs in domestic cricket. Gowtham played one ODI for India and featured in 36 IPL matches across five franchises, contributing as a bowling all-rounder.
Doug Bracewell (All formats)
New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell retired from all forms of cricket on December 29, 2025. Debuting in 2011, he played 28 Tests, 21 ODIs and 20 T20Is. A seasoned domestic campaigner, injuries curtailed his career, bringing an end to his time with the BlackCaps and New Zealand cricket.