With the dust settling after India’s epic Test tour of England and the next cricketing action still a month away, the rumour mill is spinning again — this time about the future of two modern-day greats: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Both have already bid farewell to Test and T20I cricket, choosing to focus solely on ODIs, with the 2027 World Cup in Africa long seen as a possible swansong. But a report in Dainik Jagran suggests that their ODI journeys might end sooner than expected.
According to the report, the upcoming Australia ODI series in October could be the last time Kohli and Rohit don the blue in this format. A BCCI source hinted that if the two legends do intend to push for 2027, they will first need to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this December — much like the board’s earlier mandate for players to play Ranji Trophy games before being considered for England selection.
The reason? India’s ever-growing pool of young white-ball talent, with selectors already thinking ahead to the next World Cup cycle.
Both Kohli and Rohit had played Ranji Trophy matches after a tough Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, but they announced their Test retirements in May, before the England squad was named. They also stepped away from T20Is together, moments after India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.
India’s ODI calendar kicks off with the Australia series from October 19 (Perth, Adelaide, Sydney), followed by three ODIs against South Africa at home in December. The 2026 schedule is packed too, with series against New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, West Indies, and another against New Zealand.
