With more than half the year still to go, 2025 has already seen a flurry of international retirements across formats. From World Cup winners to country legends, the exits have come thick and fast. Here’s a comprehensive format-wise list of prominent cricketers who have hung up their boots in 2025.
Retired From All International Formats
Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
New Zealand’s fifth-highest run-getter and their only ODI double centurion, Guptill officially ended his career on January 8. His iconic 237* against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup remains a high watermark in Kiwi cricket.
Varun Aaron (India)
Once India’s fastest bowler, Aaron’s career was repeatedly curtailed by injuries. He played just nine Tests and nine ODIs between 2011 and 2015 before calling it quits from international cricket this year.
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
After a brief reversal of his initial retirement in 2023, Tamim permanently stepped away from international cricket on January 10. With 15,192 runs, he finishes as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer across formats.
Shapoor Zadran (Afghanistan)
A key figure in Afghanistan’s early years, the left-arm pacer played 80 matches (44 ODIs, 36 T20Is), including the country’s first-ever ODI World Cup win against Scotland in 2015.
Wriddhiman Saha (India)
A master gloveman known for his immaculate technique behind the stumps, Saha retired after 40 Tests with 1,353 runs and a lasting reputation as one of India’s finest pure wicketkeepers.
Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
The gritty opener and former captain became just the seventh Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests. He retires as the country’s fourth-highest Test run-scorer with 7,222 runs, alongside 50 ODIs to his name.
Mahmudullah (Bangladesh)
A former captain and big-match player, Mahmudullah stepped away after a poor Champions Trophy campaign. He retires with the most centuries (3) by a Bangladeshi in ODI World Cups.
Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)
The explosive middle-order batter ended his international career at 33, opting to focus on franchise cricket and family. He was instrumental in South Africa’s white-ball resurgence in recent years.
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
West Indies’ most capped T20I player bowed out at just 29, choosing to prioritise franchise cricket despite the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Retired From ODI Cricket
Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
The powerful all-rounder ended his ODI journey ahead of the Champions Trophy. Known for his 146* on debut, Stoinis played 71 ODIs, scoring 1,495 runs and taking 48 wickets.
Steve Smith (Australia)
One of Australia’s greatest modern batters, Smith retired from ODIs after the Champions Trophy. A key contributor to two World Cup wins (2015 and 2023), he ends with 5,384 ODI runs at an average of 43.27.
Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
After retiring from T20Is in 2022, Mushfiqur stepped away from ODIs this year. Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in the format (7,795), he remains their most prolific batter across formats.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
The flamboyant all-rounder ended his ODI stint recently, capping off a dramatic World Cup-winning run in 2023 and Champions Trophy appearance in 2025.
Retired From Test Cricket Only
Rohit Sharma (India)
After a string of series losses and India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final, Rohit retired from Tests. He captained India in 24 matches, winning half of them, and had earlier stepped away from T20Is after leading India to the 2024 World Cup title.
Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket came as a surprise to many, especially as it followed closely on the heels of his T20I exit. A titan of the modern game, Kohli leaves behind a rich legacy in the longest format. He is India’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins and was instrumental in reshaping India’s fast-bowling identity.
Under his leadership, India achieved historic milestones, including their maiden Test series win in Australia in 2018–19. With 9,230 runs in 113 Tests, Kohli finishes as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format, combining consistency with intensity for over a decade.
Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
After nearly 16 years at the highest level, Angelo Mathews bid farewell to Test cricket as one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable and enduring players. Known for his composure and adaptability, Mathews scored 8,167 runs in 118 Tests, becoming Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-scorer and their fourth-most-capped player in the format.
A quiet leader and an occasional match-turning bowler with 33 wickets, his career bridged generations—from the tail end of the Mahela-Sanga era to mentoring the current crop. His departure marks the end of an era for Sri Lankan cricket.
