 "Ajit Agarkar challenging Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could prove to be messy for him, claims a former cricketer. Images: PTI")
Indian cricket team chief selector Ajit Agarkar has been sent a stern warning regarding the possibility of suffering a “messy end” as the Men In Blue entered the transition phase in ODIs, two years before the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kicking off the transition in ODIs, Agarkar took a bold call and removed Rohit Sharma from the ODI captaincy , replacing him with Shubman Gill.
Rohit, however, is part of the ODI squad for the Australia tour and so is Virat Kohli, but Agarkar has refused to confirm that the legendary duo are in contention for the World Cup. During the squad announcement, he also said that contracted players will be required to play domestic cricket when available.
Agarkar warned against meeting ‘messy end’
It’s been felt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection panel, headed by Agarkar, has decided to move on from Rohit and Kohli, but former England pacer Steve Harmison feels that such a thought process could fire back, considering the clout Kohli and Rohit command.
“Unfortunately, I think there might be a messy end for Ajit Agarkar there. If anybody is going to win here I think it is the former captains rather than the former all-rounder. But it all depends on, if Agarkar is saying this, just to fuel the fire of Kohli and Sharma, then fair enough. You put your cards on the table and see what comes,” Harmison said on talkSPORT Cricket.
Amazingly, Rohit was removed as ODI captain after leading India to the Champions Trophy 2025 victory in March. However, his retirement from T20Is and Tests left the selectors with no option. Kohli has also retired from the other two formats, and that can bring an end to his international career soon.
Harmison, however, feels that Kohli is more vital in ODIs than Rohit and there’s a possibility of friction between him and Agarkar that could lead to a “messy end”. The former cricketer added that not taking Kohli to the World Cup could be a big blow for India.
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More Shorts“I think Kohli has got a little bit of skin in the game. Runs in the bank, his reputation. Sharma, not as much. Sharma’s a little bit older. He’s not been as influential in 50-over cricket as Virat has. If Virat turns around and says, ‘All right, you go to the 50-over World Cup without me and leading up to it, let’s see when you’re chasing 350 in 50 overs to win against Australia or England, and you haven’t got that bloke who averages 90 winning games at number four, see where your teams at’. There could be a messy end in that way. There could also be words that have been misunderstood in translation,” he added.
Rohit would turn 40 by the time the 2027 World Cup comes around and Kohli would be 38. Which is why the selectors have begun the process of transition, but how they handle the exits of the legends would be very crucial from here.