Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday addressed the growing chatter over the ODI futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, after a media report claimed India’s upcoming ODI series in Australia this October could be their final international appearance in the format.According to Dainik Jagran, the three-match series — which will mark the start of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa — could see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma call time on their ODI careers.
If bothe Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma aim to continue until 2027, the report added, they would need to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic List A tournament, to stay match-ready and in contention for selection. The BCCI’s domestic participation condition, the report suggested, might prompt the duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to retire.
BCCI breaks silence on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s ODI future before 2027 World Cup
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday reacted to speculations about Virat Kohli’s and Rohit Sharma’s impending ODI future after a media report indicated that their international careers could all but end in October this year. And if it comes to push, India will be without two of their stalwarts in the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
With the England Test series over and no international action until the start of the Asia Cup in September in the UAE, speculations around the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in international cricket gripped Indian fans. And it was triggered by a Dainik Jagran report, which indicated that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could draw curtains on their ODI career in the tour of Australia in October this year.
If they wish to prolong their career until 2027, the report revealed, they would need to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic List A tournament, to stay match-ready and in contention for selection. The BCCI’s domestic participation condition, the report suggested, might prompt the duo to retire.
However, a BCCI source privy to the developments told PTI on condition of anonymity that the Indian board is least bothered about Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s’s future now, as they are completely focused on the upcoming Asia Cup and the preparations for the T20 World Cup next year.
“Obviously, if they (Rohit and Kohli) have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour. But from an Indian team’s perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available,” the source said.
The report further stated that the BCCI would never make a decision of this nature hastily, especially given the significant public interest surrounding the two players. The PTI report also dispelled media rumours about the BCCI offering them a farewell game in Sydney on October 25. A BCCI source familiar with the matter confirmed that no such discussions have taken place so far.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma last played for the Indian team in the Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year in the UAE, where India won the title. However, neither has played competitive cricket since the conclusion of the Indian Premier League.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Last played Vijay Hazare Trophy was some ages ago
Rohit Sharma could make his return to domestic cricket once again and he could turn up for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled to kick off on December 24. A report has claimed that the India ODI captain will have to perform in the domestic tournament to remain in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He captained India to a Champions Trophy win earlier in 2025. He has now retired from Test and T20I cricket.
Rohit Sharma, if he decides to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, could also lead Mumbai in the List A tournament. As the fans wait for a word on Rohit Sharma’s return to domestic cricket, here we see the last time Rohit played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy –
Rohit Sharma last played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in October 2018. He played two games for Mumbai in the 2018/19 tournament as he wasn’t part of the Test team back them. He remained unbeaten on 33 in the quarter-final against Bihar. He managed 17 off 24 in the semi-final against Hyderabad. Shreyas Iyer played a captain’s knock and remained unbeaten on 55 as Mumbai chased down the target to win the game. They defeated Delhi in the final to clinch the trophy.
Rohit didn’t feature in the final due to his ODI commitments. The final was played on October 20 while the first India-West Indies ODI was played on October 21. Ajinkya Rahane opened the innings with Prithvi Shaw in the final.Rohit’s addition, if he plays, will bolster Mumbai’s chances. They will have the likes of Rahane, Iyer, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian and few other star players in their ranks.
Virat Kohli’s last List A appearance for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was in 2010 on February 18 against Services in Gurgaon. Kohli was the captain of the team, and Delhi won that match by 113 runs. The skipper scored 16 (8) while batting at number five. The VHT has played a major role in promoting Kohli’s career.
He scored 534 runs in seven matches in the 2008-09 season, the highest. His four centuries in the edition remained a record till 2022-23 when Narayan Jagadeesan broke it. Adding to the talks about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove their worth for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can continue playing ODI cricket as long as they are performing.
Sourav Ganguly makes a massive claim amidst the Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma exit buzz ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shocked the cricket fraternity after they announced sudden retirement from Test cricket before the England tour. Both, however, expressed wish to play the 2027 ODI World Cup for India. The two veterans have been great servants of Indian cricket, but their selection in the World Cup squad will depend on their performance in the preceding series.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly reflected on Virat and Rohit’s future in ODI cricket and said that anyone who is performing deserves to play for India
“It’s difficult to say. Whoever does well will play. If they do well, they should continue. Kohli’s one-day record is phenomenal, even Rohit Sharma’s. Both of them are phenomenal in white-ball cricket,” Ganguly said during AWL Agri Business Ltd Event.
The England tour was the first series in many years where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not part of the India squad. The team, though, did well and drew the series 2-2, with captain Shubman Gill leading the charge with over 700 runs. Sourav Ganguly said that cricket stops for no one as there is plenty of depth and talent in the country.
“Indian cricket stops for no one. There is so much talent. Look at the way they all batted. Outstanding. That is how Indian cricket is. When Sunil Gavaskar left, Sachin Tendulkar came. As did Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and VVS Laxman. When they left, Virat Kohli emerged. And when Kohli left, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Gill stood up,” former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly told Sports Tak.
“Indian cricket has so much talent that this will only keep on growing. We have a tremendous system, where domestic cricket is so strong. The IPL is such a platform. Then there is the A team, Under-19 team as well,” he further said.
Reacting to media reports suggesting that the upcoming ODI series in Australia could be the last for the celebrated duo, Ganguly said he was not aware of any such development.
“I’m not aware of this, can’t comment on this,” he remarked when asked about the speculation.
According to reports, the tour of Australia in October could mark the final ODI appearances for the two Indian greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have already played their last in T20Is and Tests. The duo have so far remained non-committal on whether they are targeting the 2027 World Cup.
India’s ODI tour of Australia begins on October 19, with matches scheduled in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, followed by three home ODIs against South Africa in December. The 2026 calendar features ODI series against New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, the West Indies, and another contest against New Zealand.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball
