“It depends on the players”- BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla opens up on Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli’s retirement

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played for India in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Australia and India will clash in the three-match ODI series from October 19 and will mark the return of veteran Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket. The two batsmen have always tortured the Australian attack, and even though they are nearing the end of their careers, they will continue to be crucial.

Even before the series began, talk arose about Rohit and Kohli’s likely retirement from ODIs. The duo was asked to compete in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for future ODI team choices as chief selector Ajit Agarkar is dubious about including them in the long-term strategy.

Interestingly, both legends want to be a part of India’s Cricket World Cup squad in 2027, but their spots are not guaranteed because management apparently wants to move on from them.

‘’Going to benefit us a lot”—BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla on Kohli and Rohit

However, prior to the Australia ODIs, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla dismissed any retirement rumors and confirmed that Kohli and Rohit are still in the ODI picture.

“It is going to benefit us a lot. They are great batsmen. We will succeed in defeating Australia with them on the team. It is absolutely wrong to say that this is their last ODI series. It depends on the players as to when they have to retire,” he told ANI in Delhi.

Gautam Gambhir, the Indian head coach, also opened up about Kohli and Rohit’s future in the Indian ODI team and indirectly said that there is enough time left to decide their fate.

“Look, 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, and I think it is very important to stay in the present,” he said in a press conference after India beat West Indies 2-0 in their Test series. “That is very important. Obviously, they are quality players; they are coming back, and their experience is going to be a handful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful series,” Gambhir told reporters after India’s Delhi test win over the West Indies.

Rohit and Kohli will both play under Shubman Gill, who has been appointed as the new India ODI captain. Their return will happen when India and Australia clash in the first ODI on October 19 in Perth.

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