The cricketing world was taken by storm in 2025 as numerous high-profile players announced their sudden retirements. Leading the charge was Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies cricketer, who retired from international cricket at just 29. This unexpected announcement set the tone for a year filled with surprising departures. Here’s a rundown of the cricketers who shocked the cricketing community.
Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran’s decision to retire at 29 sent shockwaves throughout the cricketing world. The former T20I captain, who was last seen playing in the IPL for Lucknow Super Giants, shared his retirement news with a message on Instagram. In his international career, Pooran participated in 61 T20Is and 106 ODIs, accumulating over 4000 runs in both formats.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, the Indian batting icon, announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025. This decision came just before the England tour, scheduled to commence on June 20. Kohli had previously retired from T20Is in June 2024 after leading India to victory in the Men’s T20 World Cup. He will now focus solely on the ODI format. In Tests, Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma also unexpectedly retired from Test cricket, opting to concentrate on ODIs. The 38-year-old had previously retired from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup. Sharma played 67 Tests, scoring 4301 runs, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.
Heinrich Klaasen
South Africa’s wicket-keeper batter, Heinrich Klaasen, surprised everyone with his retirement announcement this June. At 33, he decided to prioritize his family and franchise cricket. He played 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is during his international career.
Glenn Maxwell
Known for his explosive batting in ODIs, Glenn Maxwell retired from the ODI format at the age of 36. Recurring back issues and the need to manage his workload were cited as reasons. He played 149 ODIs, scoring 3990 runs, including 4 centuries and 23 half-centuries.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith, the Australian batting star, retired from One Day Internationals after the Champions Trophy exit. He played 170 ODI matches, scoring 5,800 runs, including 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries.