Rohit Sharma guided India to the Champions Trophy win earlier this year. He was named Player of the Match in the final. In contrast, Virat Kohli finished as India’s second-highest run-getter in the competition. However, during the Indian Premier League (IPL), they retired from Test cricket. The famous combination will only play 50-over cricket for India from here on, after retiring from T20Is in 2024.
However, there is widespread suspicion that Rohit and Virat Kohli spots in the ODI squad are doubtful.
They are likely to play a three-match series against Australia in October. According to some speculations, their future with the Indian team could be determined by how well they perform in the series.
Irfan Pathan, a former India all-rounder, raised concern about the Men in Blue’s lack of ODIs leading up to the 50-over World Cup in 2027. He believes Kohli and Rohit’s biggest difficulty would be having adequate game time ahead of the main event. Pathan also stated that both are training hard on their fitness with the goal of performing well for India in the series Down Under.
“For Kohli and Rohit, the only challenge would be to play regular cricket. Otherwise, they are all outstanding. Talking about these professional cricketers, whose only focus is to play cricket for now, the biggest challenge for them would be playing regularly and staying fit. Virat is going to play IPL only, and then whenever there is First-Class cricket, but just to play and not to prove anything. So, continuing the game time will not be an easy task,” Pathan told RevSportz.
T20 has taken over and one-dayers have taken a backseat, so number of matches has gotten changed in both. World Cup 2027 won’t be a challenge if continuity of the game time is handled. Unfortunately, there will be pressure on them. Whereas Rohit Sharma, I’ve spoken to him and he’s very keen about fitness. Then Virat, I am sure is very keen as well with the way he has been seen practising in England. The keenness is important from the player’s point of view, so this is a great thing about them – that they are in touch and working on their fitness as well,” he added.
I hope that the communication has been very clear: Irfan Pathan
Pathan hoped that head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had clearly communicated their plans regarding Kohli and Rohit’s future in the ODI team, especially with the World Cup in mind. While Rohit would be 40 at the time of the global event, Kohli would be 39.
“I really think that should be the case, and I hope that the communication has been very clear,” Pathan said on whether he sees Kohli and Rohit playing beyond the Australia ODIs.
“Knowing Gautam (Gambhir) and Ajit (Agarkar), I think they have made it very clear in terms of communication. And as I said, having game time regularly will keep away all sorts of challenges. If you’re talking about 2027, that challenge will be there because they’re not playing for India currently. After, say, three games against Australia and IPL, if there is a big gap, then the continuity breaks,” he added.
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