With India’s ODI season concluding, the BCCI is set to reassess the long-term roles of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Selectors and management are expected to take a decisive call on the senior duo as India looks to reset after a disappointing Test series.
The ODI calendar of India is about to end and the BCCI is about to set a serious talk regarding the future path of stalwarts of Indian cricket- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the upcoming three-matches ODI series against South Africa, the management and selectors will definitely make a decision regarding the duo, keeping an eye on the World Cup 2027. As per the sources, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir will sit with the management in Ahmedabad after the third match the next week.
The ODI series is starting from 30th November and it is going to be a crucial one for both the management as well as this legendary duo. After the whitewash in the test series against SA, the team management is also under question. The bowling coach Morne Morkel called this defeat “disgusting” and suggested that the team will focus completely on white ball this series beyond the loss. Thus, this series can be seen as a reset opportunity for the team. It is important to note that Shubhman Gill is not in the squad due to his neck injury and KL Rahul will be taking charge of the captaincy.
On the other hand, Virat and Rohit have not been communicated with any specific team preparation for the upcoming World Cup in 2027. Some sources also suggest that the management is looking for backup players in case either of the two falls out in future.
Why Does This Matter?
The discussion around Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma isn’t just about two senior players, it is about the roadmap of Indian Cricket in ODI towards the World Cup. With the 2027 World Cup cycle already in motion, the management needs clarity on leadership, experience, and long-term squad depth. However, a player like Virat Kohli (also known as king of cricket) or Rohit Sharma deserve clarity about how management is looking at them and what are their roles in the squad. These two cannot be playing with speculations or uncertainty. Any shift in their roles will directly influence team balance, selection strategies, and grooming of the next core group.
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Besides this, the BCCI has asked Rohit Sharma just to focus on his fitness whereas Virat has not got any such pointers. It is needless to say that fitness is not an issue when it comes to Virat Kohli. On the other hand, it is going to be a crucial series for Indian cricket fans as the senior duo is still the emotional anchor for them. The questions are also roaming around the recent form of Virat and Rohit. In the last ODI series with Australia, both performed in the last game; however, the Aussies were leading in the series already. In the upcoming SA series, fans as well as the management will be closely looking at how both perform and how soon they can hit the ground to recover their forms.
It is expected that management will expect the same aggressive brand of batting from Rohit and Kohli will be providing the stability to the squad as he has been doing for years. However, their recent performances in the Australia series looked a little rusty except for the final match. Therefore, it will be crucial to see how well the duo manage with this and come up with their vintage charm.
*Stay tuned for all the developments as India enters one of its most defining ODI phases.
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