Indian cricket has witnessed the end of an era as two of its most iconic players—Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma—announced their retirements from Test cricket within the span of five days. Rohit made his announcement on Wednesday, followed closely by Kohli on Monday, marking the conclusion of their red-ball careers just weeks before the high-stakes Test series against England at Headingley.
The legendary pair had earlier stepped away from T20 Internationals following India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in the United States and the Caribbean last year. With these developments, their focus now shifts solely to One-Day Internationals (ODIs), with the 2027 ICC World Cup in South Africa seemingly the final frontier in their international careers. Following the heartbreak of narrowly missing out on the title at home in 2023, both players appear determined to pursue cricket’s most coveted prize in a format tailored to their strengths.
Gavaskar Casts Doubt on Rohit and Kohli’s 2027 World Cup
Despite widespread speculation that Rohit and Kohli are targeting the rohit and kohli’s 2027 world cup as their international swansong, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar remains skeptical about their chances. In an interview with Sports Today, Gavaskar questioned whether the duo could maintain the exceptional form required to earn a place in the squad for the next global tournament.
“They have been massive performers in this format,” Gavaskar acknowledged. “But the selection committee will be looking at their ability to contribute at the same level by 2027. If they continue to deliver the kind of performances they are known for, then yes, they could be in the team.”
However, when asked for his personal view, Gavaskar offered a more candid take. “No, I don’t think they will be playing. I am being very honest. But who knows—if they find a rich vein of form and keep scoring hundreds, even God can’t drop them.”
ODI Focus Continues Amid Shifts in Indian Cricket Landscape
While the future remains uncertain, both Rohit and Kohli continue to play a vital role in India’s ODI setup. Rohit, fresh off leading India to a Champions Trophy win earlier this year, remains the team’s captain in the 50-over format. He continues to open the batting, with Kohli reliably slotting in at number three. Their recent performances were impressive: Kohli struck an unbeaten century against Pakistan and a crucial 84 in the semi-final against Australia, while Rohit scored a brisk 76 in the final versus New Zealand.
Meanwhile, India is already transitioning in other formats. Suryakumar Yadav has taken over T20 captaincy duties, guiding the side with notable success. The Test team is also on the brink of a new chapter, with Shubman Gill emerging as a likely candidate to lead in the upcoming England series.
Despite the changing guard, the BCCI reaffirmed its faith in the senior duo by retaining them in the top bracket of its central contracts list—Grade A+—which comes with an annual salary of ₹7 crore. Whether this vote of confidence will translate into a final World Cup hurrah for Rohit and Kohli remains to be seen, but all eyes are now on rohit and kohli’s 2027 world cup journey.
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