• Source:JND
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Cricketing legend reacted to the returns of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to India's ODI team for the upcoming three-match away series against Australia, starting from October 19.

Gavaskar said that if India had been touring Zimbabwe and not Australia later this month, Rohit and Virat would not have been available for the tour, slamming the legendary duo for their pick-and-choose attitude.

India are all set to tour Australia for a white-ball assignment with the ODI series serving as key preparation for the upcoming ICC 50-over event in South Africa. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Australia series on Saturday, as Virat and Rohit are all set to make their respective first international appearance since the Champions Trophy earlier this year in the UAE.

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While Agarkar avoided confirming Rohit and Kohli’s inclusion in the 2027 World Cup plans, the series could prove pivotal for both veterans. However, Gavaskar suggested that Kohli and Rohit returned to action because the series is against Australia. He added that had the opposition been the Windies or Zimbabwe, Rohit and Kohli might have extended their break.

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"I am pretty certain that if this were a trip to Zimbabwe or the West Indies, both of them wouldn’t have been available. But because this is in Australia and because India lost to Australia in the World Cup final, maybe that is the reason why both of them have decided, yes, I want to be available for this," Gavaskar said while speaking to India Today.

"It depends to a great extent on the number of one-day matches that India plays over the next couple of years. Look, it isn’t easy to be playing just seven or eight ODIs in a season while preparing for something as big as a World Cup," Gavaskar added.

Like Agarkar, Gavaskar also mentioned the importance of Kohli and Rohit participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in order to keep their World Cup aspirations alive.