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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the lifeline of Indian cricket for over a decade. They have achieved almost everything together and are among the most celebrated Indian cricketers of this era. They broke the hearts of fans when they decided to step down from the shortest format after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, and more recently, when they announced their retirement from Test cricket.
However, they have not yet hung up their boots in ODI cricket and are expected to play in the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. But the ODI landscape in India is shifting in 2025, and their future in this format now hangs in the balance, with reports suggesting that the BCCI may be planning to retire them early before the next ICC event and field a younger team instead.
For fans who have had the habit of seeing Kohli and Rohit in India’s ODI team since 2013, the idea of them not playing the next World Cup is undigestible. The thinking behind this, according to the report, is to build a team for the future. If Kohli and Rohit want to keep their spots, they may have to prove their fitness and form in domestic tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Meanwhile, another report has denied these claims, saying the BCCI has not made any final decision on Kohli and Rohit's future yet , and their plan right now is to build a team for the 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup. That means any call on the star duo will have to wait, but it won’t be delayed for long.
Why BCCI might want to move on from Kohli, Rohit
The next ODI World Cup is more than two years away, and India have around 12 ODIs scheduled before then. That’s plenty of time to try younger players and build a settled side. Rohit will be 40 and Kohli will be 39 by the time the next World Cup arrives. In modern cricket, age and fitness can become deciding factors because of the fast-paced style of white-ball matches.
There’s also the fact that both players have retired from Test and T20I cricket. And without regular match practice across formats, staying focused for just a handful of ODIs each year is not easy for anyone, no matter how good they are. Other teams will have players who are regularly playing competitive cricket, which could give them an edge over non-regular players like Kohli and Rohit.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, India’s talent pool is also a big reason why questions are being raised about two of the top ODI batters this generation has seen. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Rishabh Pant are already showing they can deliver in international cricket and are waiting for their chance in the 50-over format.
These young players will bring fresh energy and a more aggressive style of batting to the side, which is required in modern cricket. If BCCI selectors and management believe these players can give India a better shot at winning the 2027 ODI World Cup, tough decisions might be made even if that means dropping legends like Rohit and Kohli.
Why fans feel Kohli, Rohit still deserve a chance in ODIs
On the other hand, fans are arguing that Kohli and Rohit have earned the right to call time on their careers themselves. Earlier this year, they were instrumental in India winning the ICC Champions Trophy, where Kohli scored 218 runs in five games, while Rohit added 180. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, they led India to the final, losing only to Australia in the last match.
Their ODI records speak for themselves. Rohit has over 11,000 runs with an average close to 49 and a strike rate of nearly 93. Kohli has more than 14,000 runs at an average of 57.88 and is already regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters ever, with over 50 centuries in the format, more than any other player. Very few players can match that kind of experience and ability, and it sometimes becomes a deciding factor in big tournaments.
The big question is what Kohli and Rohit want
If Rohit and Kohli want to keep playing ODIs, they might have to go through the grind of domestic cricket, something they haven’t done for years.
They will have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December and the A series against Australia and South Africa, as it could be necessary to prove they still belong on the big stage. But will they be willing to play these smaller games is a big question right now.
For now, all eyes will be on that October series against Australia. It will become clear by then what their plans are and what the team management wants in regards to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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