Should Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from ODIs? Suresh Raina answers burning question
Former India batter Suresh Raina shared his take on whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should continue playing ODIs in the run-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Having retired from Tests and T20Is, there is a cloud of uncertainty surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future in ODIs for Team India. Both senior batters retired within a week from Tests earlier this year, marking the end of an era for India in the longest format. However, their absence was not felt as Shubman Gill-led India enjoyed a smooth transition in the recently concluded Test series against England.
Gill led from the front with the bat, while the likes of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant shone as India pulled off a 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With India slated to play only a solitary ODI series in 2025 and the next ODI World Cup a couple of years away, there are doubts about whether Kohli and Rohit can continue that long.
While Rohit will turn 40, Kohli will be 39 by the time India take part in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Both senior batters have expressed their desire to feature in the tournament publicly, but their futures remain uncertain. Recently, reports claimed that Rohit might be asked to step down from captaincy in ODIs as the team management wants Gill to lead the team in the run-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Amid questions over the future, former India batter Suresh Raina recently opened up on whether Kohli and Rohit should continue playing ODI cricket for India. Raina believes the duo still has a lot left in their tank and that their experience will come in handy for Gill and the Indian team in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Raina also insisted India don't have much better players than Kohli and Rohit in run-chases in ODIs.
"India don’t have dependable players at No. 1 and No. 3 (in ODIs) at the moment, especially when chasing," Raina said in an interview with Telecom Asia Sport.
"Rohit and Virat’s experience is very important. It’s crucial for the seniors to stay involved with the juniors. Shubman (Gill) has done really well, but he needs players like Virat and Rohit," he added.
Kohli and Rohit were both part of India's title-winning squad in the Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year. Rohit-led India defeated New Zealand in the final to end over a decade-long wait for their third Champions Trophy crown. Kohli enjoyed a fine campaign in the tournament with 218 runs in 5 matches and was the second-highest run-getter for the Men in Blue.
Rohit endured a woeful run until the final, where he slammed a brilliant 76 to lead India to a 4-wicket win in a 252-run chase against England. Both Rohit and Kohli have also been among the most prolific run-getters for India in ODIs despite their growing age.
When will Kohli and Rohit return for India?
Having retired from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup last year, the senior duo will not feature in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in T20 format. Kohli and Rohit are likely to return for India in October this year, when the Men in Blue take on Australia in a three-match ODI series on their tour Down Under. India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against Australia on the tour.