After months of speculation, Rohit Sharma has officially retired from Test cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable red-ball career that spanned nearly 12 years. The announcement came via social media on May 7, and while the decision marks the close of an era, it also signals a major financial shift for the former Indian captain.

Insiders suggest that Rohit’s retirement wasn’t entirely voluntary. After underwhelming performances and mounting criticism over his captaincy in Tests, the BCCI selection committee reportedly decided to move on, excluding him from plans for the England tour in June. With no place left in the Test setup, Rohit chose to bow out.

Rohit Sharma currently holds a Grade A+ BCCI contract, earning ₹7 crore per year. But with his Test and T20 retirements, his category is expected to drop to Grade A (₹5 crore) or even Grade B (₹3 crore) next year — resulting in an annual loss of ₹2 to ₹4 crore.

Also gone is the lucrative match fee of ₹15 lakh per Test, which used to bring in over ₹1 crore per year for players appearing in most matches.

While the paychecks shrink, Rohit is now eligible for BCCI’s monthly pension — ₹70,000 per month for players who have played 25 or more Test matches. With 67 Tests under his belt, Rohit qualifies.

However, he won't receive this pension immediately. The benefit only kicks in after complete retirement from all formats, and since Rohit will continue to play ODIs for now, his pension is on hold.