Both players have retired from the T20Is and Test format of the game.
Veteran Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already drawn curtains on their Test and T20I careers. One-Day Internationals remain the only format where the duo represent India at the grandest stage. Their continued presence in ODIs potentially hinges on the 2027 World Cup. But according to media reports, their spots in India’s 50-over squad are uncertain, especially with the World Cup still two years away.
As per Dainik Jagran’s report, the BCCI doesn’t see the star duo in their long-term plans. The ages of the batting stalwarts also go against them, with Rohit touching 40 and Kohli reaching 38 by the ICC event. The report further claims that they will have to prove their case, fitness, and form by performing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 starting in December.
The report claims that it could also be their last series in India colours, as the BCCI would be happy to pick younger players, like they are doing in the longest format. However, both players have indicated that they want to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The duo missed out on the ICC title in the 2023 edition at home. Hence, the upcoming ODIs against Australia will hold massive importance. The three-match ODI series is slated for October 19, 23, and 25.
Rohit appeared in the Vijay Hazare Trophy multiple times between 2016 and 2018. Kohli last featured in the tournament in 2009, where he topped the run chart. The right-hand batter amassed 534 runs in seven innings, averaging an impressive 89.
Notably, both veterans were asked to play in the Ranji Trophy 2025 earlier this year after an embarrassing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 defeat. As a result, both made long-awaited Ranji Trophy returns and represented their teams, but failed massively in their lone outings. A month later, both batters bid adieu to Test cricket after their Ranji turnout. Earlier, the duo had announced their retirement from T20Is following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
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Rohit, the current ODI captain, has led India to three consecutive white-ball ICC finals in the last 20 months. While India suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final, they clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The Mumbaikar was India’s leading run-getter (257) in the T20 World Cup and scored 180 runs in CT in five innings, striking at 100. Having not won the ODI World Cup in his 18-year career, it has kept the fire burning in him to win the 50-over ICC title.
Virat Kohli has also been enjoying huge success in ODI cricket. He was the leading run-getter in the 2023 ODI World Cup and India’s second leading run-getter (218) in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He had a miserable T20 World Cup 2024 until the final, where he played a match-winning 76-run knock under pressure.
Both batters last played in the IPL 2025 season, where Rohit scored 418 runs (striking at 149.28) while Kohli amassed 657 runs, striking at 144.71.
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