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"They Will Take A Call...": Ganguly Makes Big Statement On Rohit Shama And Virat Kohli

Rajgeeta Yadav

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli [Source: @Tanmaycoolkarni/X.com]Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli [Source: @Tanmaycoolkarni/X.com]

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of India’s biggest cricket stars, have retired from both Test matches and T20Is. Now, they plan to focus only on One-Day Internationals (ODIs), with hopes of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Since T20 cricket has become more popular, ODIs are played less frequently. India are scheduled to play just six ODIs this year. Rohit and Kohli are expected to return to action in August during India’s tour of Bangladesh. The three-match ODI series will begin on August 17 in Dhaka and end on August 23 in Chattogram.

Sourav Ganguly Doubts Rohit And Kohli’s 2027 ODI World Cup Chances

Although their retirement from other formats shocked many fans, some believe this move could help them stay fit and focused for the 2027 World Cup. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly doesn’t think it will be that easy. In an interview with PTI on Saturday, he said, 

"It won't be easy. 15 games a year. I've got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do. And they will take a call. But all of us must understand that just like everyone, the game will go away from them and they will go away from the game."

Notably, Kohli and Rohit will continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which could help them stay in rhythm, but it’s not the same as international cricket. Their retirement from Tests makes sense too, Rohit’s recent Test form was not great, and Kohli struggled with his old weakness of edging balls outside off-stump, especially during the Australia tour.

With no involvement in domestic cricket and only ODIs left on their international calendar, staying fit and in form until the 2027 ODI World Cup will be a serious challenge for the veteran pair.

Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Wants To Play ODI World Cup 2025

Still, both have made it clear that they’re not done with ODI cricket. In an interview with a senior journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit Sharma expressed his desire to play the 2027 ODI World Cup. Similarly, Kohli said during IPL 2025 that his main target now is to win the next 50-over World Cup.

It is worth mentioning that India recently ended their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy, winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025. 

Rohit and Kohli played key roles in these victories and continue to be match-winners in ODIs. Kohli scored 218 runs at an average of 54.80 in the Champions Trophy, including a century and a fifty, while Rohit made 180 runs, with a crucial 76 in the final against New Zealand.