With India playing fewer One-Day Internationals in the coming months, former national coach and former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should consider taking part in domestic cricket to maintain their match fitness and rhythm.
Both the stalwarts of Indian cricket, who now only feature in the 50-over format, have taken a break from regular action after retiring from the other two formats. Kohli and Rohit bid farewell to T20 internationals after leading India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024 and later that year he quit Test cricket after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Their last international appearance before the current Australian series came during the Champions Trophy in Dubai where India lifted the trophy.
Since that triumph, the pair took an extended break of almost seven months before returning for the ODI series against Australia. The long gap naturally led to questions about whether the two veterans, both in their 30s and 30s, could maintain their fitness and form over the next two years – especially with ODI World Cup 2027 in sight.
“The decision to play only one format is difficult for them,” Jagdale told PTI. “They were both exceptional in white-ball cricket, but if you don’t play regularly, rust creeps in – we’ve seen it happen with players like Dhoni in the IPL and even legends like Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden after their retirement.”
Jagdale noted that the dwindling number of ODIs in the international calendar makes it even more important for Kohli and Rohit to stay active through domestic cricket. “Currently, 50-over-less cricket will be played,” he said. “I would like to see them play home tournaments. I don’t know what they have in mind, but racing on their home circuit will definitely work in their favor.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Jagdale remains cautiously optimistic about its chances of a cut. “I don’t think they’re done yet,” he said. “Their participation in the next World Cup will depend a lot on their fitness. It’s too early to predict, but if they continue to perform and stay committed, there’s no reason why they can’t be there.”
Aged 40 and 38 by the time of the next World Cup, Rohit and Kohli’s continued hunger and professionalism will be key to extending their illustrious ODI careers.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 22, 2025
