Speculations are rife that the tour of Australia could mark the farewell for both stalwarts.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli called time on their T20I career following the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, while they retired from Test cricket in May this year. The ODI format remains their only commitment for Team India as of today.
There has been no 50-over cricket for India since the end of Champions Trophy 2025 in March, and the next series is scheduled in Australia later this month.
On Saturday (October 4), the BCCI selectors announced India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour. The Ajit Agarkar-led panel removed the 38-year-old Rohit from ODI captaincy and handed over the reins to young opener Shubman Gill.
Rohit and Kohli though continue to feature in the 15-member squad as specialist batters. While speculations are rife that the tour of Australia could mark the farewell for both batting stalwarts, a report published in PTI claims that the duo is likely to feature in at least three, if not four, Vijay Hazare Trophy games before the New Zealand ODI series in January, keeping the 2027 World Cup in sight.
Between the conclusion of the South Africa ODIs and the start of the New Zealand leg, there will be at least six rounds of Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Mumbai and Delhi, and the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee would expect the legendary pair to play in the List A tournament.
"Between the last ODI against South Africa on December 6 at Visakhapatnam and the first ODI against New Zealand at Vadodara on January 11, there is a gap of five weeks.
"The Vijay Hazare Trophy starts on December 24. There will be six rounds of games for Mumbai (December 24, 26, 29, 31, Jan. 3, 6, 8). Rohit will be expected to at least play three rounds before linking up with the squad. Ditto for Virat," a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Recently, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested that Rohit and Kohli might need to play a bit of domestic cricket to get into the groove and could have actually played the India 'A' series.
“If you need their services, you have to find a way. For example, the India ‘A' series happened, so you need to ask them to play that series because there is not much 50-over cricket. They should have said that if you don't play the series, I don't think you fit in the plan.
"If not this series, then they have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that will let us know the kind of form you are in,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
(With PTI Inputs)