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In the last few days, there has been a lot of speculation regarding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in the Indian Cricket team. Notably, both the senior players announced their retirement from the T20I format after India won the T20 World Cup in June 2024. Almost a year later, the duo also called off their respective Test careers ahead of the recently ended series against England.
Now, there are also reports coming that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might also retire from the ODI format as they are not in BCCI’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. India’s next ODI series against Australia starting October 19 down under is being looked at as their last. There are also reports coming that Rohit and Kohli need to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove their form ahead of the ODI World Cup. Talking about this, former Indian cricketers and commentator Aakash Chopra said that both Rohit and Kohli have retired from the wrong format as there are a very ODI matches happening in recent times.
The story would have been different if they retired from the ODIs: Aakash Chopra
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should have retired from ODIs instead of Test cricket. The former cricketer feels that the there are less ODI matches happing in recent times and the duo wouldn’t get enough practice to prove themselves from the ODI World Cup 2027.
"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,” Aakash Chopra said.
"There is a possibility that you might play only six Tests in a year, but even if it is 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," he further added.
