Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli part of India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans? This has been one such unanswered question that continues to ignite debates in the cricket world.
After India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup in June 2024, Rohit and Kohli stepped away from the 20-over format and test cricket in less than a year. Especially, in May this year, the duo of veterans retired from test cricket, with only five days between their announcements via Instagram story.
However, RO-KO, still being active in their ODI career, are now left with only one format in international cricket. A couple of weeks back, a few reports claimed that the Australian tour in October 2025 could be the farewell series for the experienced batters.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to put an end to the fueling speculations.
Most importantly, the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla dismissed the rumors by saying that Rohit and Kohli would continue to be a core part of India’s 50-overs plans.
No Premature Farewell for Rohit and Kohli: Rajeev Shukla’s Stance
During a podcast on the UP T20 League’s YouTube channel, Rajeev Shukla was asked if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be given a grand farewell like Sachin Tendulkar if they retire from ODIs too.
Here is what the interviewer asked Rajeev in Hindi and is translated into English for easier understanding: “We have one request to BCCI and to you as a fan. Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli get a farewell as Sachin Tendulkar received after his retirement?”
In response, the BCCI vice-president said that the discussions related to RO-KO’s farewell are completely ridiculous. The 65-year-old reminded the entire cricket world that these two batting stalwarts are fit enough and enthusiastic to return to their national cricket team:
“No! Have they retired? Rohit and Kohli are currently playing in ODIs and will continue to represent India for a few more years in the 50-over format. Why should we discuss their farewell and start worrying now? It’s a fact to accept that Rohit and Kohli both are playing very well. And Virat is very fit now.
There is a popular caption that means we will tell you how to cross the bridge when it comes,” Shukla said.
‘BCCI Policies are Very Clear’: Rajeev Shukla’s Opinion
Mainly, Rajeev Shukla responded that the BCCI never forced any player to retire from a particular format, and the cricketer himself holds the right to make any decision:
“See! BCCI has been very clear with its policies by not forcing any player to retire. The decision to retire is purely based on a cricketer’s opinion. In other words, every player has their right to make their own decision.
Right now, there is no need to worry or think too much about their farewell,” the BCCI vice-president clarified.
No Retirement for RO-KO: A Glitch in ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings
Recently, Rohit Sharma claimed the No.2 spot in ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, and Virat Kohli was placed fourth in the same list.
In recent times, a screenshot of the ICC’s ODI rankings list went viral on social media as Rohit and Kohli’s names went missing in the list. Soon, users shared the post and spread rumors by captioning that “RO-KO’s ODI Retirement Loading Soon”.
But the Press Trust of India (PTI) conducted a detailed investigation and claimed those rumors to be baseless.
The reports claimed that the news related to Rohit and Kohli’s retirement from the 50-overs format was completely false. This is because of the technical glitch on ICC’s website that caused the disappearance of these two elite superstars from the ODI batting rankings.
However, it is to be noted that neither the Hitman nor the run-machine of the Indian cricket team announced their retirement from the ODI format.
At present, the error has been sorted out. So, Rohit and Virat retain their respective positions in the ODI rankings.
Do Rohit and Kohli have any Retirement Plans? BCCI Source Clarifies
Amidst the heated debates, the BCCI source made it clear that Rohit and Kohli would have informed the Indian cricket boards if they had any retirement plans:
“Definitely! Suppose they (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) had any other plans in mind, they would have informed the BCCI in advance, just like they did by announcing their test retirement ahead of England’s tour.
But, from the Indian team’s point of view, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in 2026. There is ample time left for the preparations to commence. At present, the focus is completely on the Asia Cup T20 tournament. We hope that our players will be fit enough and send the best team for the high-profile tournament,” the BCCI source said.
Conclusive Facts: Rohit and Kohli’s Next Assignment in International Cricket
It was during the Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 09, when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli donned Team India’s blue jersey.
Two months after India’s triumphant campaign, the duo of heavyweights of the Indian cricket team retired from tests and have remained out of action after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in June.
Also, India’s white ball tour to Bangladesh in August 2025 was called off. Both nations’ cricketing boards agreed to this decision, considering the busy international commitments and the security concerns in Bangladesh.
So, Rohit and Kohli will now return for the 3-match ODI series in Australia scheduled on October 19 (Sunday), October 23 (Thursday), and October 25 (Saturday) in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney, respectively.
With focus set on the ODI World Cup 2027, RO-KO are gearing up for one final chapter before hanging up their boots.
