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Earlier this month, the two stalwarts of the game, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, put down curtains on their Test career after announcing retirement from T20Is after India’s win in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, the announcement came at a crucial juncture with India set to travel to England for a five-match Test series, the two veterans will only be seen now playing the 50-over format.
With only a limited number of ODI matches scheduled for India in 2025, former India cricketer and coach, Anil Kumble believes it might be difficult for Rohit and Kohli to maintain their fitness. Speaking of India’s ODI series, the Men in Blue are scheduled to play a total of nine matches this year, three each against Bangladesh, Australia and South Africa.
Won't be easy for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to maintain fitness for ODIs: Anil Kumble
Sharing his views after Ro-Ko’s retirement from Test cricket mid-way through the IPL 2025, Kumble feels that their future in ODI cricket is also not destined, seeing the next big 50-over tournament, the ODI CWC set to be played in 2027. "It's not easy to just do what they need to in terms of preparing for an ODI, which is six months down the line. It's going to be a challenge, no matter who you are and how well you have had your career over the years," Anil Kumble said.
The 54-year-old also added, “But they are champion players, so they know how to sort of manoeuvre that, and it's important to celebrate champion players as long as they play. You go into thread bare of each performance as to how they should have played or how they could have played." "What is important is to celebrate whatever is out there with the two players. Ideally, they would like to play until the 2027 World Cup, because that's something that did not happen. We saw that 2023 (World Cup) final with Australia holding the trophy," he concluded.
India’s ODI schedule in 2025
India’s tour of Bangladesh 2025:
|
Date |
Day |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Venue |
|
August 17 |
Sunday |
1 st ODI |
9:30 am |
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka |
|
August 20 |
Wednesday |
2 nd ODI |
9:30 am |
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka |
|
August 23 |
Saturday |
3 rd ODI |
9:30 am |
Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram |
India’s tour of Australia 2025:
|
Date |
Day |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Venue |
|
October 19 |
Sunday |
1 st ODI |
9:00 am |
Perth Stadium, Perth |
|
October 23 |
Thursday |
2 nd ODI |
9:00 am |
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide |
|
October 25 |
Saturday |
3 rd ODI |
9:00 am |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
South Africa tour of India 2025:
|
Date |
Day |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Venue |
|
November 30 |
Sunday |
1 st ODI |
1:30 pm |
JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi |
|
December 3 |
Wednesday |
2 nd ODI |
1:30 pm |
Shaheed Veer narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur |
|
December 6 |
Saturday |
3 rd ODI |
1:30 pm |
Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhatpatnam |
