The ODI series in Australia will begin on October 19 in Perth.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were included in the Indian ODI team for the upcoming three-match series in Australia. This will be the first appearance of the duo since their win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in March. The duo has retired from Tests and T20Is and only play ODIs.
While there is no question about their status and pedigree, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has questioned the basis on which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were chosen in the Indian squad, given that they play only one format in international cricket.
Rohit and Kohli last played in IPL 2025 in competitive cricket, and since then, they have been practicing on their own, working on fitness and getting ready for the upcoming assignment.
Dilip Vengsarkar, former India captain and chairman of selectors, believes it is impossible to judge Rohit and Kohli's form and that they were chosen only based on their records.
“Rohit and Virat have been great players over the years, but if you are playing just one format of the game, I believe the selectors need to take a call on this. I feel you cannot know or judge the form and fitness of such players because they’ve had a long layoff after the last game they have played. It’s very difficult to assess their form and fitness,” Vengsarkar told Mid-day.
Australia ODIs are the first matches scheduled for the Indian team since March, but there was a possibility that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could’ve featured in the recent unofficial one-dayers between India A and Australia A. However, neither featured in the three-match series, which India A clinched 2-1.
“Rohit and Virat have possibly been picked because of their great records. They have been great players and have done service to Indian cricket, having won many matches in all formats of the game. But since they have not been playing Test match cricket as well as T20s and are playing only one format, one-day matches, which are not very often played during the season, it’s very difficult to gauge their form and fitness. But since they have been picked, the selectors may have checked that, though I don’t know how," Vengsarkar said.
Talking about the 2027 World Cup, Vengsarkar stated that Rohit and Kohli’s inclusion in the Indian squad would depend on where Indian cricket is heading.
“It’s really up to the selectors whether they want to stick with Rohit and Virat or look ahead and give opportunities to those players who are available for all formats of the game. It depends on how they look at Indian cricket going ahead," he said.
The ODI series in Australia will begin on October 19 in Perth.