IND vs SA: "Just watch and enjoy them bat" - Ravi Ashwin on speculation on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in ODIs

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only play ODIs for India, after retiring from T20Is in 2024 and from tests in May this year.

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former off-spinner for India, has stated that fans should cherish the brief time that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have left in international cricket.  

The 39-year-old’s remarks coincide with ongoing conjecture on the previous captains’ ability to play till the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Since their return in the Australia series, the two have performed effectively in ODIs. Rohit struck 8, 73, and 121* and then scored a 57 in the first ODI against South Africa. On the other hand, Kohli hit two ducks and 74* in Australia and smashed 135 in Ranchi.

“I will say one thing—how much time we have to watch and enjoy Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat. Please let’s do it because once they are done, we could hear talks like, ‘Oh, what a player he was! Please bring him back.’ That doesn’t cut ice for me. For however long they play, let us celebrate them as long as they are playing. As I said, life moves on very fast. Time does not wait for anyone. It is very important that we realize that the time is less. So it is better that we enjoy whatever they are doing,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat.”

Virat Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most tons in one single format—51 in tests. Kohli now has 52 centuries in ODIs and 83 overall. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma hammered three sixes in his knock to hit 352 sixes, breaking Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi’s record of 351 sixes, the most in ODI cricket.

Virat Kohli was very clear when he retired from tests: Ravi Ashwin

One of the rumors going around in the cricket world was that Kohli might play test cricket once more. When the subject was posed to the 37-year-old during the news conference following the game, he made it apparent that he had no such plans.

Ashwin added that Kohli would have taken that decision to retire after putting in a lot of thinking, and it was unjust to time and again criticise the decision.

“What is there to think? Whatever decision we take, it is well thought out. I am sure that when a player like Kohli decided to retire from Tests, he was very clear. Nobody makes instinctive decisions. We have all crossed that road. As audiences, as fans, we all want to see Virat Kohli,” Ashwin stated.

“The way he batted yesterday, fans are going to think. But Test cricket is a different kettle of fish, and he has made a decision regarding that. Let us make one thing very clear. Whatever decision he has made, he has taken it. To keep going back to that is not the right thing to do. A lot of players have come in, and the team has entered a transition as well. It is about moving forward,” he said.

Kohli and Rohit will be in action when India clashes with South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur on December 3.

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