Sachin Tendulkar to Ravichandran Ashwin: How some of India's greats fared in their last Test
Team India have been fortunate to have some extraordinary players who have left an indelible mark on the game and fans. However, as with all careers, there comes a time when they must hang up their boots and bid farewell to international cricket.
Over the past 15 years, India has witnessed some of its finest cricketers step away from the game. The retirement of these players is always a bittersweet moment for fans, as they say goodbye to the legends who have shaped the sport and brought immense pride to their country.
From Sachin Tendulkar's emotional farewell to Ashwin's more subdued exit, India has seen several cricketing icons retire in recent years. We look at five of India's greats who retired from Test cricket and how they fared in their final match.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar bid farewell to Test cricket on November 16, 2013, during the West Indies' tour of India for a two-match series. The cricket legend had the privilege of playing his last game at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and became the first player to appear in 200 Test matches.
India won the toss and chose to field. Pragyan Ojha was the standout bowler for the hosts, taking five wickets as West Indies were dismissed for 182. Tendulkar had a solid performance with the bat, scoring 74 runs off 118 balls, including 12 boundaries, in his final Test innings.
Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara (113) and Rohit Sharma (111*) both scored centuries as India amassed 495 runs in their first innings. Ojha was again among the wickets, claiming another five-wicket haul as the visitors were bowled out for 187, with India winning by an innings and 126 runs.
Tendulkar ended his illustrious Test career with 15,921 runs in 200 matches, averaging 53.78, including 68 half-centuries and a record 51 centuries.
#2 Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from Test cricket on March 9, 2012, at a press conference held at his home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, in front of more than 200 people.
His final game came earlier that year against Australia in Adelaide. Batting first, Ricky Ponting (221) and Michael Clarke (210) scored double centuries as Australia declared their first innings at 604/7.
In response, Virat Kohli scored his maiden Test century, making 116 before India were bowled out for just 272. Dravid had a disappointing outing, getting dismissed for just one run.
The hosts then declared their second innings at 167/5, setting a target of 500 runs. India were bowled out for 201 in their chase, with Dravid contributing 25 runs as the visitors lost by 298 runs. India had a challenging tour, being whitewashed in the four-match series.
Dravid retired with a remarkable record of 13,288 runs in 164 Test matches at an average of 52.31, including 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries.
#3 Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag announced his retirement from international cricket on October 20, 2015. However, his final Test appearance came two years earlier, during a match against Australia in 2013 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Australia declared their first innings at 237/9. In response, Murali Vijay (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (204) played superb knocks, helping India reach 503 runs. Sehwag, however, struggled and was dismissed for just six runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin then took five wickets in Australia's second innings as they were bowled out for 131, with India winning by an innings and 135 runs. After this match, Sehwag was dropped from the team and never returned to international cricket.
Sehwag played 104 Tests, scoring 8,586 runs at an average of 49.34, with 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries to his name.
#4 MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket on December 30, 2014, after the third match of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Steve Smith’s brilliant 192 guided Australia to a total of 530 runs in their first innings.
In response, Virat Kohli (169) and Ajinkya Rahane (147) played stellar innings as India posted 465 runs. Dhoni, however, could only manage 11 runs. Australia declared their second innings at 318/9, setting a target of 384 runs for India.
The match ended in a draw, with India finishing at 174/6, and Dhoni remaining unbeaten on 24. Throughout his career, the wicketkeeper-batter played in 90 Tests, scoring 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09, including 33 half-centuries and six centuries.
#5 Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin is the latest cricketing legend to announce his retirement from international cricket. He made this announcement after the conclusion of the third Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Wednesday, December 18. Ashwin’s final appearance came earlier in the same series, during the second Test in Adelaide.
In that match, India were dismissed for just 180 in their first innings, with Ashwin contributing a quickfire 22 from 22 balls. Travis Head’s brilliant 140 helped Australia post 337, taking a lead of 157 runs.
Ashwin claimed one wicket, dismissing Mitchell Marsh. India’s second innings was equally disappointing, as they were bowled out for 175, with Ashwin scoring just seven runs. Australia won the match by 10 wickets.
Despite this loss, Ashwin leaves behind a remarkable Test career, having taken 537 wickets in 106 matches — the second-highest by an Indian, only behind Anil Kumble’s 619 — along with 37 five-wicket hauls. The 38-year-old also amassed 3,503 runs, including 14 fifties and six hundreds.