Listing every full or format retirement in international cricket in 2025 – Angelo Mathews is the next to go
The year is barely halfway through, and we have already witnessed a wave of high-profile retirements.
Some of the most celebrated names in modern cricket have left the international stage.
Here’s our list tracking these recently retired players and celebrating their contributions to the game.
1. Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
Retirement: All internationals – June 9, 2025
At just 29, Pooran stunned fans by announcing his retirement from all international cricket.
T20Is: 106 matches, 2,275 runs at a strike rate of over 145, 149 sixes
West Indies’ highest T20I run scorer, ahead of Chris Gayle.
ODIs: 61 matches, 1,782 runs, including 3 centuries
Captained the West Indies in white-ball formats and was a key figure during their T20 rebuilding phase.
His early exit reflects the shift toward franchise cricket, where he continues to thrive as MI New York captain in Major League Cricket and a valuable IPL asset.
2. Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)
Retirement: ODI & T20I – June 2, 2025 (Test career ended in 2024)
Known for his brutal power-hitting and clean glove work, Klaasen was among South Africa’s premier white-ball finishers.
ODIs: 60 matches, 1,638 runs at 41.97, strike rate of 117.
T20Is: 58 matches, 1,153 runs, strike rate 147
He played a pivotal role in SA’s rise in T20 cricket and will now continue in leagues worldwide, notably the IPL and SA20.
3. Steven Smith (Australia)
Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025
One of the modern game’s batting greats, Smith ended his ODI career after a decade of excellence.
ODIs: 170 matches, 5,800 runs at 43.28, 12 centuries
Played key roles in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 World Cup campaigns
Smith continues to play in Tests, where he remains among the top 10 all-time run-scorers for Australia.
4. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025
Maxwell, who is known for his showmanship and for redefining the role of a finisher, retired from ODIs shortly after the 2025 Champions Trophy.
ODIs: 149 matches, 3,990 runs at a strike rate over 125, 77 wickets
Produced one of ODI cricket’s greatest innings with a 201* vs Afghanistan in 2023
His explosive style and off-spin continue to make him a T20 asset globally.
5. Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025
The muscular all-rounder was integral to Australia’s white-ball setup through the 2020s playing key roles with both bat and ball.
ODIs: 71 matches, 1,495 runs, 48 wickets
Key figure in Australia’s 2023 World Cup win, especially with his ability to break partnerships and accelerate late in innings
He remains active in T20 leagues including the BBL, IPL, SA20 and ILT20.
6. Virat Kohli (India)
Retirement: Test cricket – May 12, 2025
Kohli, one of the greatest batters of the 21st century, ended a monumental Test career just short of 10,000 runs.
Tests: 113 matches, 9,202 runs at 49.30, 29 centuries
Captained India in 68 Tests, with a win percentage of nearly 59%
His intensity and passion redefined India’s red-ball identity, especially overseas.
7. Rohit Sharma (India)
Retirement: Test cricket – 2025
India’s charismatic opener and Test captain called time after guiding a transitional team through tough WTC cycles.
Tests: 61 matches, 4,173 runs at 45.06, 12 centuries
Excelled at home and abroad following his post-2019 reinvention as an opener
Also captained India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and 2024 T20 World Cup win, cementing his leadership legacy.
8. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
Retirement: All formats – February 2025
One of Sri Lanka’s most dependable red-ball openers retired after reaching the milestone of 100 Tests.
Tests: 100 matches, 7,172 runs at 39.27, 14 centuries
Captained Sri Lanka from 2019–2023, including an away series win in South Africa. Karunaratne’s gritty, old-school style earned him comparisons to Mahela Jayawardene and Upal Tharanga in temperament and poise.
9. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
Retirement: All formats – January 8, 2025
One of the Black Caps’ most successful white-ball batters, Guptill’s final act closed a glorious chapter.
ODIs: 198 matches, 7,346 runs at 41.73, 18 centuries
Scored a World Cup-record 237* vs West Indies in 2015
Played 122 T20Is, amassing over 3,500 runs
His clean striking and consistency made him a fan-favourite across formats.
10. Wriddhiman Saha (India)
Retirement: All formats – 2025
India’s long-serving red-ball wicketkeeper finally bid adieu after years of service behind MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant.
Tests: 40 matches, 1,353 runs at 29.41, 6 fifties
Known for superb glove work, especially on turning tracks. A mentor figure in recent years, Saha is likely to stay connected to Indian cricket through coaching or IPL roles.
11. Piyush Chawla (India)
Retirement: All formats – 2025
A veteran leg-spinner and part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squads.
ODIs: 25 wickets in 21 matches; Tests: 3 matches, best figures 4/69
Though he never nailed down a long-term international spot, Chawla was prolific in domestic cricket and key in the IPL for CSK, KKR, and MI.
