Game Changers Exit: Cricket's Retiring Stars Of 2025

KEY POINTS

India’s Test core dismantled by Kohli & Sharma’s retirement.
Australia’s white-ball power weakened by Maxwell & Smith exits.
Power hitters like Pooran & Klaasen exit all formats.
Reliable anchors like Pujara & Karunaratne also step away.

ISLAMABAD: The year 2025 is a major turning point for the cricket arena as many of the game’s biggest stars from all over the world have retired. The sport is now moving on from a famous generation of players, including both the hard-hitting heroes of short-form cricket, ODI’s and the reliable, long-time greats of Test matches.

The most seismic shifts occur in the Test arena, where India must reimagine its batting core following the dual retirement of modern pillars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their exit marks the end of a dominant era in Indian cricket. Sri Lanka’s reliable anchor, Dimuth Karunaratne, has also stepped away from the longest format.

One-Day International cricket has been particularly hard hit. Australia’s white-ball engine room has been dismantled with the ODI retirements of the explosive Glenn Maxwell, the ingenious Steve Smith, and the powerful Marcus Stoinis. They are joined by South Africa’s consistent performer Rassie van der Dussen.

The T20 format and all-round international careers have also seen major stars depart. Australia’s World Cup-winning fast bowler Mitchell Starc has retired from T20Is. A cohort of devastating finishers and openers have exited all formats entirely, including the West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, Pakistan’s Asif Ali, and New Zealand’s veteran Martin Guptill.

Further storied careers drawn to a close include those of Bangladesh’s elegant opener Tamim Iqbal and the versatile Mushfiqur Rahim (from T20Is). India also bids farewell to the resilient Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, and fast bowler Varun Aaron.

While fans worldwide bemoan the end of this celebrated chapter, the collective retirement of these 17 stars undeniably clears the stage. The coming years will define a new era, as the next generation is thrust into the spotlight with the urgent mandate to build their own legacy.