Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra remarked that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might have chosen the wrong format to retire from, suggesting it would have been better if they had stepped away from ODIs and continued playing Test cricket. He pointed out that after retiring from T20Is and Tests, the two are now restricted to ODIs, which are played far less frequently. Using India’s Champions Trophy 2025 win as context, he highlighted that the team played only six ODIs in the 12 months leading up to the tournament, limiting match exposure for the senior duo.

Chopra also drew attention to the lack of game time before their upcoming assignment in Australia later this year. He explained that even if a year features only six Tests, it still offers around 30 days of cricket, whereas six ODIs amount to just six days of play. With more than 100 days between their last IPL appearance and the next ODI, he stressed that the pair would face a long gap without competitive matches or practice, raising concerns about their readiness for crucial fixtures.

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"The truth is that they have said goodbye to the wrong format. They had left T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup, but the story might have been different had they continued to play Tests and said goodbye to ODIs. India played only six ODIs in 12 months before the Champions Trophy. There is a possibility that you might play only six Tests in a year, but even if it's only six Tests, it's 30 days of cricket. If only six ODIs are played, it's just six days of cricket over a period of time. It will be more than 100 days from your last IPL match to the next ODI you will play. You are not playing at all. You are not practicing at all," Chopra stated in a video on his YouTube channel.

I think it is very, very difficult: Chopra

Aakash Chopra emphasized that long breaks between matches could disrupt a player’s rhythm, explaining that a three-match series finishes within a week, with the next often coming months later. He noted that such large gaps, without First-Class cricket in between, make it harder to stay in form. According to him, had Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continued playing Tests and retired from ODIs instead, it would have been easier to maintain their groove. The 47-year-old believed the current schedule poses a significant challenge for the experienced duo.

Chopra further pointed out the difficulty of returning to peak performance after a long hiatus. He argued that with limited ODI cricket, retiring from Tests leaves players with very little high-level match time. He explained that after just two months of IPL, where they might play 14 to 16 innings, Rohit and Kohli would face gaps of several months before their next ODIs. Playing three matches after six months, followed by another three after a further three months, would make it extremely tough for them to instantly regain form and perform at their best.

"A three-match series gets over in seven to eight days. Then the next one would be after three months. Gaps are just incredibly huge, and you won't play First-Class cricket in between. It's true that had they continued playing Test cricket and left ODIs, staying in the groove would have been a lot easier. When you have retired from Tests and ODI cricket isn't played much, it's not going to make a lot of sense. So, just two months of high-intensity IPL, where you would get to play 14 to 16 innings, and then you would play three matches after six months, and then three matches after another three months. I think it is very, very difficult,"concluded Chopra.