Speculations are rife that the duo is not in BCCI’s plans for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli called time on their Test career in the span of five days in May this year, leaving a big void in the Indian team ahead of the grueling England tour.
Having retired from T20Is last year, both batting stalwarts will now focus solely on the One-Day International format. However, their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup remains a mystery.
Speculations are rife that the duo is not in BCCI’s plans for the upcoming ODI World Cup. They will need to participate in the domestic 50-over competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, that begins in December, to remain in contention for the quadrennial event.
Meanwhile, a report published in PTI claims that the BCCI is in no hurry to decide on Rohit and Kohli’s ODI future. With the fast-approaching Australia tour in October, their age has become a talking point.
Rohit and Kohli would be 40 and 39 years old respectively by the next ODI World Cup in two years’ time.
"Obviously, if they (Rohit and Kohli) have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour. But from an Indian team's perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
While some media outlets have reported about BCCI potentially offering the duo a farewell game in Sydney on October 25, the source denied such discussions.
"Even if they play Vijay Hazare, before that there would already be six ODIs that will be played. In between the Australia ODIs and the South Africa ODIs, there is an India A series against South Africa A where three List A games (50 overs) will be held at Rajkot on November 13, 16 and 19 respectively."
"Now, will the duo want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series is the question. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that," the source added.
The national One-Day Championship, Vijay Hazare Trophy, is slated to get underway on December 24, preceded by a three-match home ODI series against South Africa starting November 30.
"Overlapping the Vijay Hazare Trophy (December 24, 2025 - January 18, 2025) will be the three ODIs between India and New Zealand (January 11, 14, 18). So even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it can't be for more than two to three games," the source concluded.