BCCI Finally Speaks Out On Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma's ODI Future Ahead of 2027 World Cup

The Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirement speculations have raised a debate among all the cricket fans. This discussion got more intensified when media reports claimed that the international journey of both of them could end with the ODI series in the Australia tour. However, sources associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that at present there is no intention to take any such decision.

In the last few months, both the cricketers announced their retirement from T20I and Test cricket. After winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, both of them bid farewell to this format. Just a few months after this, in May 2025, before the start of the England Test series, both announced their retirement from the longest format, shocking everyone. Soon after the Test retirement, now the news has started coming that Rohit Virat will now retire from ODIs as well.

Among all these discussions, a BCCI source stated,

"Obviously, if they (Rohit and Kohli) have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England test tour. But from an Indian team's perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available."

On August 10, a report claimed that neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma is in the team management's 2027 ODI World Cup plans. According to the report, the ODI series of the Australia tour might turn out to be the last of their respective careers. Not only this, but it was also said in this report that both the players can be asked to play the domestic ODI tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy so that young players can get a chance for the future.

However, now, according to the latest reports, BCCI sources have rejected these claims. They said that at present the board's focus is on preparations for the 2025 Asia Cup and next year's T20 World Cup. The issue of retirement from ODI is not a priority at the moment. Sources also clarified that if Virat and Rohit want to retire from this format, they will inform the board in advance like in Test cricket. Even before the team selection for the Test series on the England tour, both of them had met the officials themselves and talked about retirement.