The year 2025 witnessed a series of shocking retirements from the world of cricket, leaving fans and experts stunned. West Indies cricketer Nicholas Pooran kicked off the trend with his unexpected retirement from international cricket at the age of 29. He wasn’t alone, as several other prominent players also announced their departures. Here’s a look at the cricketers who surprised everyone with their decisions.
Nicholas Pooran
Pooran’s retirement came as a major surprise. The former T20I captain, who was recently seen playing in the Indian Premier League for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), shared his decision via a heartfelt message on Instagram. His international career saw him play 61 T20Is and 106 ODIs, amassing over 4000 runs across both formats.
Virat Kohli
India’s star batter, Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from the Test format in May 2025. This decision came just before the England tour, which was scheduled to begin on June 20. Kohli had already retired from T20Is in June 2024 after winning the Men’s T20 World Cup and will now focus solely on the ODI format. In Tests, Kohli scored 9230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma also unexpectedly retired from the Test format, choosing to focus on ODIs. The 38-year-old had previously retired from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup. Sharma played 67 Tests, scoring 4301 runs, which included 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
Australia’s star batter Steve Smith 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.