Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from ODIs? Report drops bombshell on veterans' future

It was just around the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 when Rohit Sharma, the then Indian captain in Test cricket, decided to announce his retirement from the red-ball format. It took Virat Kohli, another veteran batter and the former captain of the side, another three weeks to hang up his shoes in the five-day format.

Both Rohit and Virat Kohli retired after the Blue Brigade’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). The plan for both the experienced right-handed batters was to be part of the 50-over formats only with an eye to the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. But questions have started to arise on that.

See Also: Star CSK player ditches franchise for championship deal in 2025

The reports claimed that the national side was scheduled for a white-ball series in Bangladesh, just after the end of the five-match Test series in England. It could have been the best opportunity for both veterans to make a return to the ODI side. Undoubtedly, they will be important for both the Indian side during the World Cup.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to be retired from ODIs? - Reports

There is no possibility of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, and whether there will be any participation from the Indian side. That’s where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proposed a white-ball short trip to Sri Lanka, to keep the batters in shape and rhythm for the upcoming games. They will also make a tour to Australia for the ODI and T20I series just after the end of the home series against the West Indies.

Both the right-handed batters are vital for the team’s cause. The Delhi-born is the third leading run-getter of the 50-over format with 14181 runs in 290 innings at an average of nearly 58 and a strike rate of over 93, with the help of 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries at the best score of 183 runs. On the other hand, Rohit is tenth on the list with 11168 runs in 265 innings at an average of 48.74 and a strike rate of nearly 93, shouldering 32 centuries and 58 fifties.

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be the last 50-over ICC event for both the batters, and they may look to hang up their boots after that. However, if the reports have claimed the right picture, then the two veterans perhaps had already played their last fixture for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final.