Ajit Agarkar declined to comment on whether the inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli settles ongoing speculation about their careers beyond the upcoming Australia tour.
Kohli and Rohit Return for Australia ODI Series, Future Remains Unclear
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been selected for the ODI leg of India’s upcoming tour of Australia, starting October 19, marking their first international appearances since the Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar declined to comment on whether their inclusion signals the end of their international careers beyond this tour.
Following India’s Test series in England, reports speculated that Rohit and Kohli, both of whom retired from Test cricket in May, might play their final international matches in Australia. The claims suggested that the BCCI intends for them to focus on domestic cricket outside international duties to stay relevant for selection up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
While both senior batters have remained silent on these rumours, Ajit Agarkar addressed their future during the squad announcement for the Australia ODIs and T20Is. He admitted he has “no knowledge” if the tour will mark their last appearances in India colours.
On their potential inclusion in the 2027 World Cup, Agarkar remained non-committal: “That’s the format they are playing at the moment. We’ve picked them [for Australia]… as far as the 2027 World Cup is concerned, I don’t think we need to talk about it today. You don’t have to think too far at this point. The team is picked for Australia, and we just need them to score runs like they have through their careers.”
Ajit Agarkar Urges Rohit and Kohli to Play Domestic Cricket Ahead of Selection
Ajit Agarkar outlined a clear pathway that could virtually secure Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s spots in the upcoming tournament: participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier domestic 50-over competition.
“I think we made it clear a year, or a couple of years back, that whenever players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket,” Agarkar said. “That’s the only way you’ll stay sharp and match-ready if you’ve had a long break. Whether that’s possible with international commitments or not, only time will tell, but if the players are free, they should be playing domestic cricket.”
Kohli last featured in the List A tournament in 2010 for Delhi, scoring 16 runs at No. 5 against the Services, while Rohit Sharma’s most recent Vijay Hazare Trophy appearance came in 2018, when he made 24 in the semi-final for Mumbai against Hyderabad.