The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to host a high-stakes meeting between team management and selectors to provide clarity on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian ODI setup. The meeting is expected to take place in Ahmedabad after the third ODI between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam next week.
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar Summoned By BCCI
According to a report by The Times of India, top BCCI officials, India head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are slated to attend the discussions. The focus will be on defining the roles of Rohit and Kohli in ODIs, as well as planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, given that both players have retired from Test and T20I cricket.
“It is very important that players of Rohit and Kohli’s stature are given clarity about what is expected of them and how the current management views their roles. They can’t just be playing with uncertainty,” Times of India reported, citing a BCCI source.
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Why Is BCCI Concerned About Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
The BCCI is reportedly also assessing potential backup options for Rohit and Kohli, should the need arise. While neither player has suggested retiring before the 2027 ODI World Cup, officials are concerned about gaps in their schedules and their ability to regain form at the start of series.
This concern was highlighted during India’s recent ODI series in Australia, where both Rohit and Kohli appeared rusty in the first two matches. By the time they settled in, India had already lost the series.
“They did score runs in the third ODI in Australia. But the series was already lost, and the match was set up by the bowlers in the first innings. They looked rusty in the first two matches. One can’t afford that in every series,” the source added.
Role Clarity for Rohit Sharma, Domestic Cricket For Kohli, Rohit
Rohit Sharma may be advised to continue his aggressive batting approach, as seen during the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. In the October ODIs in Australia, he adopted a cautious approach, possibly due to uncertainty over his role.
“It is expected that he continues to lead by example as a fearless batter at the top of the order. The conditions were tough in Australia, but it did look like he was avoiding taking risks. Both are expected to lead the batting to make it easier for the rest of the younger batters around them,” BCCI sources said.
The report also noted that the BCCI had wanted both Rohit and Kohli to play cricket in England during the summer before the ODIs in Australia, but that plan did not materialize. Officials could now consider giving them match practice in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy next month.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
