• Source:PTI
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Senior Indian batting stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be "assessed", but it would be "silly" to put them on trial in each and every ODI that they play from hereon, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said on Friday.

On the eve of their return to international cricket against Australia after a seven-month gap, speculation is rife that the two former skippers will be judged on a series-to-series basis going into the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

"It will be silly to put them on trial for every game. Once they start playing, they will be assessed, but they are not on trial," Agarkar said at the 'NDTV World Summit'.

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Reiterating what he said in Ahmedabad after announcing Shubman Gill as the new ODI skipper a couple of weeks back, Agarkar once again avoided committing to their selection for an event which is still two years away. "It doesn't mean if they don't get runs in Australia, they would be dropped, and similarly if they score three tons in Australia, they would be selected for the 2027 World Cup," the former pacer said.

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Agarkar also clarified that it was Kohli and Rohit who had decided to quit Test cricket, and the selection committee would have been happy to have their experience.

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"If any place we would have liked to experience is England. Both are stalwarts, and they had approached us. And once they have decided, you have got to respect their decision," Agarkar said.

Rohit and Virat's last international appearance for India was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The Men in Blue won that tournament in the UAE under Rohit's leadership, whereas Virat was the team's second-highest run-getter. The last time they were seen in action was during the IPL 2025 for their respective franchises.

Rohit Sharma ODI Record

Matches: 273

Runs: 11168

Average: 48.77

Strike Rate: 92.81

50s/100s: 58/32

Highest Score: 264


Virat Kohli ODI Record:

Matches: 302

Runs: 14181

Average: 57.88

Strike Rate: 93.35

50s/100s: 74/51

Highest Score: 183

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