Reports: BCCI might force Kohli-Rohit to retire after Australia series

Reports suggest BCCI could push veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma towards retirement from ODIs after the Australia series, aiming to build a younger core for upcoming ICC tournaments.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: ESPNCricinfo)

India's batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, bid farewell to Test cricket earlier this year. While the news came as a shock to cricket fans, there were several reports that suggested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might have something to do with their retirement.

Right before the start of the IPL 2025, when Kohli was asked about his plans in Test cricket, he had briefly mentioned that playing another series in Australia would not be possible for him. However, the 36-year-old cricketer didn't say anything about not playing the Test series in England. Similarly, there was no prior news about Rohit's retirement as well. Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

One day, both players woke up and decided to say goodbye to their favourite format. While the fans are hoping to see Kohli and Rohit in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027, reports suggest otherwise.

As per a report from Dainik Jagran, it seems like the players aren't even in contention for the World Cup. BCCI is looking to nurture the young players for the tournament, which is almost two years away.

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This means that the fans might not get to see their favourite players in the World Cup, one last time. Moreover, reports also suggest that the upcoming ODI series against Australia is most likely to be the last one for the duo. India are set to play a 3-match ODI series against Australia later this year.

Kohli and Rohit have been the team’s backbone for years across formats. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India dominated Test cricket, and Rohit helped the team win the T20 World Cup in 2024.

The Men in Blue also went on to win the Champions Trophy in 2025. After a magical year of cricket for India, the news of Kohli-Rohit’s ODI retirement is quite heartbreaking. However, there have been no official statements made by the Board or the players yet, so the fans might hope for some good news in the future from either of them.

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