Not long ago, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were being celebrated for having starred in India’s another ICC triumph. In less than a year’s time, India won two ICC titles – T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy
– with both Rohit, the captain, and Kohli, the batter, playing key roles. However, ever since their retirement from Test cricket, speculations are rife over their ODI futures with neither being a certainty for the next World Cup slated to be held in 2027.
The Indian team has indicated that the transition across formats is in full swing with Shubman Gill also being named as the ODI captain.
Both Rohit and Kohli are nearing the end of their professional careers, and former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels their finding a regular spot in the ODI squad will be dependent on multiple factors including fitness, hunger to succeed, and form with the bat.
“It depends how hungry you are, how fit you are, whether that passion for the game is still there. With their experience, it’ll come in very handy,” Shastri said.
“I would say take it one series at a time. It’s still a long way to go,” he added.
Rohit and Kohli haven’t played any competitive cricket since June this year, and the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia will be their first in months. Shastri feels that scoring runs Down Under will be vital, and if they are out of form, it’s possible they won’t need any intimation to retire.
“Hopefully, if they have a good one here, that should keep them in a good state of mind, thinking of South Africa. If they’re not enjoying it, if the form is not good, they might pull the plug themselves,” Shastri said.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir is himself non-committal on the futures of the two veterans, focusing on the present.
On the other hand, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla doesn’t think that the Australia ODIs will be the last of Rohit and Kohli’s international careers.
“They are great batsmen. We will succeed in defeating Australia with them in the team. It is absolutely wrong to say that this is their last ODI series. It depends on the players as to when they have to retire,” Shukla told news agency ANI.
