• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were included in India's squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which is scheduled to start on October 19 in Perth.

Virat and Rohit are set to return to action in the ODI cricket for the first time since India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title win, having already retired from the T20I and Test formats. However, Rohit not being captain of the side came as a huge surprise as the BCCI selection committee named Shubman Gill as the new skipper in the format.

The captaincy change triggered speculations on Rohit and Virat's ODI future ahead of the World Cup 2027. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was quick to respond to the possibility of the senior batters making it to the showpiece event. Despite consistently showing their interest in playing the next ODI WC, there is a significant chance that they may not participate in the tournament.

ALSO READ: India's T20I Squad For Australia Series Announced

Following the squad announcement for the Australia tour, Ajit Agarkar informed the media that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are uncertain about their involvement in the World Cup. "Both Rohit and Virat are noncommittal about the World Cup (2027)," stated Ajit Agarkar.

ALSO READ: Netizens React As Rohit Sharma's ODI Captaincy Stint Ends Ahead Of World Cup 2027

He added, "They are greats of the game and have scored numerous runs for India. We just expect them to continue scoring runs for India and maintain their leadership roles in the team." When questioned about whether Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma should participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Agarkar responded, "We’ve made it clear that whenever the players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket."

Virat and Rohit have been India's biggest match-winners in ODI cricket over the past few years. Rohit had made it clear after India’s Champions Trophy triumph that he would not be retiring from the 50-over format.

The tour begins with three ODIs on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by five T20Is between October 29 and November 8. The three-match series will be closely watched for what it signals about India’s long-term plans in ODIs.