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Senior India batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will reportedly be selected on merit, based on their current form, as their ODI future hangs in the balance ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kohli and Rohit were included as India announced their ODI squad for the upcoming series against Australia on Saturday. However, the inclusion doesn't guarantee them anything about the future.
Rohit was relieved of captaincy duties with Shubman Gill taking charge in ODIs ahead of the Australia tour. Gill, who had replaced Rohit as India's Test captain earlier this year, is being seen as the future all-format leader of the team. Gill's elevation to ODI captaincy also marks the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket as the Men in Blue embark on a transition ahead of the World Cup, which is two years away.
As per a report in the Times of India, the decision to appoint Gill as captain is part of a year-long plan devised by the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection panel and head coach Gautam Gambhir. With the move, a clear message has also been sent to Rohit and Kohli, leading to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
As per the report, the two senior India batters will be selected on merit and on the basis of their form. It has also been made clear that no individual is indispensable in the team and that the selectors and the team management are aware that both Rohit and Kohli might not be at their peak by the time the World Cup arrives. Rohit will be 40 at the time, while Kohli will turn 38.
"It has been a collective effort by Gambhir and Agarkar. They understand that it will be tough for both Rohit and Kohli to be at their peak after two years, given that they are in their late 30s," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
"They didn’t want to be caught off guard if suddenly Rohit or Kohli’s form dipped. It would have created chaos in the leadership group. The duo announcing retirement from Tests days before the selection for the England tour was a case in point," the source added.
As per the report, Kohli and Rohit have been selected in India's ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour based on their performance in India's title-winning campaign. Kohli enjoyed a fine campaign in the tournament, where he notched up 218 runs in 5 matches to finish as the second-highest run-getter for India.
Rohit, on the other hand, scored 180 runs in 5 matches, including a match-winning knock of 76 runs in the final against New Zealand. Both batters have been the strongest pillars of India's success in ODIs over the last few years. However, the selectors want to avoid taking the risk of being caught off guard if Rohit and Kohli's form dips heading close to the World Cup.
The fact that Rohit and Kohli won't get enough game time throughout the year for India, having already retired from Tests and T20Is, also makes their case complicated. With India playing only a handful of ODIs every year in the lead up to the World Cup, Rohit and Kohli might have to turn to domestic cricket to remain sharp and keep themselves fit for international assignments.
