Agarkar drops truth bombs on Rohit, Kohli and 2027 World Cup; reveals why Shami remains sidelined: ‘Younger players can take the spot’

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has refused to confirm Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup as he hinted that younger players can replace the legendary duo in the Indian Team, while also stating that fitness issues have led to the prolonged exclusion of fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

The spotlight is firmly fixed on Kohli and Rohit as they get ready for a return to international cricket after a gap of more than seven months in the ODI series in Australia. They last played for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 in March, and having retired from T20Is and Tests, there are concerns regarding their future in the ODI team.

‘Younger players can replace Rohit, Kohli’

Ahead of the first ODI at Perth on 19 October, the Indian cricket team’s head selector Agarkar was asked if Rohit and Kohli would be part of the ODI World Cup 2027 squad. The former all-rounder gave a non-nonsense reply as he said that their continuous inclusion would depend on their form, fitness and the team’s requirements.

“They are part of the squad at the moment in Australia. They are incredible players, but it is not the forum to harp on about individual players. Two years from now, it is difficult to say what the situation will be. Who knows, there can be younger players who will take the spot. Both are great players, and they will not be put to the test in every match. Once they start playing, we will assess the situation. It is about winning trophies, not just runs. It is not like if they score three hundreds in the Australia series, they will play the World Cup in 2027. We have to take the situation into consideration,” Agarkar said at the NDTV World Summit 2025.

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Agarkar added that ’legacy cricketers’ deserve respect and while not everything is out in the public, the selectors have nothing but respect for Kohli and Rohit.

“Legacy cricketers have created that legacy for themselves. You’d rather have those experienced players playing well. You have to treat them with respect. Some of the conversations with them don’t come out, but there is nothing but respect,” he added.

‘Unfortunately, Shami is not fit’

On Shami’s exclusion from Team India since the Champions Trophy 2025 and his latest outburst against the selectors, Agarkar said that the only reason the Bengal pacer is sitting out is due to fitness issues.

“If he says that to me, I will probably answer that. I mean if he was here, I would probably do that. I am not quite sure what he said on social media. Maybe if I read that, I might give him a call but my phone is always on for most players. I have had multiple chats with him over the last few months, but I don’t want to try and give you a headline here,” said Agarkar.

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“He has been an incredible performer for India. If he said something, maybe that is a conversation for me to have with him or him to have with me. But even before England, we said if he was fit, he would have been on that plane. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Our domestic season has just started so we will see if he is fit enough and we will see where it goes. This is the first round of Ranji games that is going on. We will find out in a couple of more games.

“If he is bowling well, why would you not want to have someone like a Shami. But what we have found in the last six-eight months to a year, even during the Australia tour, we were desperate to have him on, but unfortunately his fitness wasn’t there. If he does stay fit over the next few months, the story might be different. But at this point, as far as I know, he wasn’t fit enough for that England tour,” he added.

Shami had recently criticised selectors for questioning his fitness as he said that he wouldn’t have been playing matches in Ranji Trophy had he not been fit.