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"They are here to stay": Rohit, Kohli's ODI retirement rumours put to rest by IPL Chairman

Anurag Dasgupta

IPL chairman on ROKO retirement rumours [Source: AFP Photo]IPL chairman on ROKO retirement rumours [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman, Arun Dhumal, broke his silence on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI future as he hailed the iconic duo for their class and conviction. Dhumal reckons that RO-KO is here to stay and they will take part in the 2027 World Cup as their ODI future is in jeopardy.

Dhumal also praised Rohit’s knock in the series finale vs Australia as the India opener slammed a sensational century to win the game for his side. Rohit was dismissed cheaply in the first ODI, but he responded back with a gutsy fifty in the second game, and followed it up with a match-winning century.

Dhumal ends RO-KO retirement rumours to rest

In an exclusive interview with the ANI, Dhumal praised the Indian veterans and put their retirement rumours to rest.

"We've been talking about this bench strength of the Indian team for a long, long time. But look at this team, a 14-year-old wonder, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he's knocking at the door to be part of the team. And then you have these greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who people think are going, but they are not going.


They are here to stay. And the way Rohit has shown his class in this ODI series, at that age, coming as player of the match in the final match and then player of the series, that shows the kind of conviction that they carry, the kind of hard work that they put in. When it comes to Team India, they will want to give it their best. And that is the true reflection of a sportsman. And my best wishes to both of them. They have done wonderful. They have given their life to Indian cricket," Dhumal said to ANI.

RO-KO's sensational partnership that silenced critics

Both Rohit and Kohli entered the ODI series vs Australia under a lot of pressure, as the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, warned the duo that any future ODI selection would depend on how they performed against Australia. Kohli failed in the first two matches as he registered back-to-back ducks in the first two games.

However, he put the failure behind him and scored a brilliant, unbeaten 74 in the SCG ODI to get back amongst run-scorers as he played a calm and composed knock. Rohit, on the other hand, looked scratchy in the second ODI, but he was back to his best in the run-chase at SCG.

Rohit hammered a quick-fire 121* in the third ODI, and alongside Kohli, took India past the winning line, and in the process, he secured the number one spot in ODI rankings.