Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Contend with Uncertain ODI Future Despite Iconic Careers

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been among the biggest stars in world cricket for over a decade but their ODI careers are now uncertain. With the ODI series against Australia in October likely to be their final appearance for India in the format, there is plenty of speculation regarding whether the two batting legends will be able to carry on until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Both the players have already retired from Test cricket and T20 international cricket to play only one-day matches. This has shocked a lot of people such as former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra who opines that they might have retired from the wrong form.

In Chopra's opinion, Test cricket is the toughest version of the game and it keeps an individual mentally and physically sharper than white-ball cricket. He opines that the ODI format has lesser pressure on batters and gets repetitive while Test matches require continuous skill and flexibility. In his opinion it would have been preferable had Kohli and Rohit not dropped Tests and abandoned limited-overs cricket altogether. In this manner they would have remained more interested in the sport and kept themselves fit for matches on a regular basis.

The timing of their choice is also questioned since the Indian team will get to play just six ODIs prior to the next IPL season in 2026. That means that in a whole year of time Rohit and Virat would have just six days of actual match time in international cricket. Chopra wonders how two elite athletes can remain fully motivated and in prime condition with so little match time. Had they stayed on in Test cricket, their schedule would have been much more hectic with series against nations such as England, West Indies, and South Africa to provide them with far more playing days and a better competitive rhythm.

Chopra adds that by still being engaged in the Test format of the game players are able to choose to play in the Ranji Trophy or even county cricket during times of lull in the international calendar. These games serve to keep match fitness up and batting ability in good order. But once a player calls it quits at the Tests level there is not much to entice them to play domestic red-ball cricket. This can result in undue gaps between competitive games which can be demanding on any cricketer, regardless of their experience.

There has been speculation surrounding Rohit and Virat potentially playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's top domestic one-day tournament, as a means to impress the selectors. But Chopra rules this out as unlikely and states selectors won't be making a decision based on the performances in the tournament. The tournament will be held in December but India will play only nine ODIs total prior to the IPL, so it is a very limited window for players to stay in the running solely based on one-day cricket.

Chopra further adds that due to their status and past, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would not have to utilize the Vijay Hazare Trophy as a stepping stone to the team in the first place. Their selection for the team would rely on future plans and physical fitness rather than one domestic tournament. He is of the view that the notion that they might prolong their ODI career just by playing Vijay Hazare does not seem real. On the other hand, he thinks maintaining activity through Test cricket would have been a far better method for them to continue performing at the top level.

The truth is that with such a light ODI fixture list and no participation in other forms, both teams will have the task of remaining match fit. Fitness drills and net work can compensate but no amount of practice can exactly substitute for the ferocity and spontaneity of real-match situations. A long break between matches can impair timing, reflexes, and thought processes, particularly in international cricket where margins are very thin.

For supporters, the potential departure of Kohli and Rohit from ODIs in October will be an emotional one. The two players have produced numerous match-winning performances for India in the format. Rohit is famous for marathon innings and record-breaking double centuries in ODIs. Kohli’s consistency and ability to chase down targets have earned him the reputation as one of the greatest ODI batters of all time. Their partnership at the top of the order has been a defining feature of India’s white-ball cricket for years.

But cricket never stands still and national sides are always on the lookout to secure a long-term future. The next ODI World Cup is more than two years away and selectors might like to groom a younger group of players to take the team forward. This is why it is all the more critical that senior players keep themselves fully active and in nick if they hope to feature in long-term schemes.

Whether the Australia series turns out to be the last chapter of Rohit and Virat's ODI career or merely another milestone will hinge on a lot of factors. How they perform in the coming matches will matter but so will the selectors' vision for the future of the team. The decision to stay away from Tests and T20s has taken away from them their chances to remain in form through constant competition and that may prove to be the tipping point.

For the time being, fans will be hoping that the pair can put signature to their ODI careers on a high if the reports are to be believed. The cricketing fraternity has witnessed their brilliance over the years and the thought of an Indian side without both Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in ODIs would take some getting accustomed to. No matter what the future holds, their influence on Indian cricket is now a part of history and their records in the format will be standards for generations to come.

If they retire from ODIs after the Australia series, it will bring an end to an exceptional era in Indian cricket. From memorable chases to dominating show in international tournaments, they have controlled the manner in which the team has played and enchanted countless fans. But as Aakash Chopra opines, maybe things would have been different had they opted to stay on in Test cricket but retired from the shorter formats. For the time being, everyone will be looking towards October to find out what choice the players and the selectors will take regarding their future.