The year 2025 has witnessed some truly shocking and immediate announcements of retirements from some of cricket’s most established and class players. The cricketing world was left reeling as several stars opted to step away from international duties, some at the peak of their powers, others to focus on different aspects of their careers. Let’s dive into this list of surprising retirements that shook the cricketing landscape.
Nicholas Pooran
First on our list is Nicholas Pooran. The explosive West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, at a current age of 29, stunned everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket on June 10, 2025. Pooran, who retires as the leading T20I run-scorer for West Indies, made this decision shortly after requesting rest from a white-ball series.
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His 1983 T20I runs and 2275 ODI runs will be sorely missed. Just a day later, he was named captain of MI New York for MLC 2025, revealing his new focus.
Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen, at 33, also announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket on June 2, 2025. The South African wicketkeeper-batter, who debuted in 2018, leaves behind a record of 2141 runs in 60 ODIs and 1000 runs in 58 T20Is.
His decision came as a major surprise, especially after his recent century in IPL 2025 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, showcasing his excellent form.
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Glenn Maxwell
Australia saw two major retirements. Glenn Maxwell, currently 36, retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket on June 2, 2025, to focus on the T20 World Cup. His 149 ODIs included iconic performances, notably his 201* against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell will now lead Washington Freedom in MLC 2025.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith, 36, also retired from ODIs after Australia’s semi-final defeat in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Starting as a leg-spinner, Smith transformed into a batting legend, accumulating 5800 runs in over 170 ODIs, including 12 centuries.
Mitchell Starc
Finally, Mitchell Starc, 35, announced his retirement from T20Is to prioritize Australia’s Test schedule and the 2027 ODI World Cup. Starc, a veteran of 65 T20Is and a key part of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup win, will now focus on the longer formats of the game.
These retirements mark a significant shift in the cricketing landscape, leaving fans with indelible memories and anticipating new eras for their respective nations.