Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have announced their Test retirements ahead of the series against England that started on June 20. Both announced their Test retirements last month.
The senior duo had previously announced their retirement from T20I cricket after India won the T20 World Cup last year in June. Both will still be playing the ODI format, which does not come often as before in between Test and T20Is.
India will be playing just a handful of ODI matches this year which might not give them enough game time to prepare themselves for the ODI World Cup in 2027. Rohit is still India's ODI captain and Kohli continues to be an important cog in the Indian batting order.
Sourav Ganguly in an exclusive interview with Indian Express spoke about the senior duo playing ODI cricket. They last played in the IPL and and very keen to keep themselves fit to play in the ODI World Cup. Ganguly said that playing ODIs won't be easy.
“It won’t be easy, fifteen games a year. I’ve got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do, and they (Rohit & Virat) will make their own decisions. But all of us must understand that, like everyone else, the game will eventually move on from them, and they will move on from the game,” Ganguly told PTI in an interaction.
He further went on to say that had Virat Kohli continued playing Test cricket, he would have scored crucial runs in the series against England.
“Retirement should happen when people ask ‘Why?’ and not ‘Why not?’ As a player, you always know your place. He knew he didn’t have the best of 5 years in Tests but champions like him find ways to rediscover themselves. If Virat was on this England tour, I’m confident he would’ve scored heavily. But he felt it was time to go,” Ganguly said.
Also Read: ICC Fixtures Made Behind Closed Doors; Why India-PAK In Same Group Is Not Appropriate For The Sport
India To Play 21 ODIs Ahead Of 2027 ODI World Cup
Previously, Gautam Gambhir had said that doors will be open for both the senior cricketers to play in the ODI World Cup. Both Kohli and Rohit will be seen playing for India in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. The future of the series is still hanging in the balance. In case the series is abandoned, both will return for the ODI series against Australia in December. India will be playing 21 ODIs in the lead-up to the next ODI World Cup in 2027.
