After India’s tour of England and with no international cricket till the Asia Cup in the UAE next month, the speculation has begun on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
A media report said their time in international cricket might be up in October. The report said to continue their ODI careers and be in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup, they would need to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
But PTI reported that some in the Board of Control for Cricket in India want Kohli and Sharma to play in India A’s 50-over matches. Their participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy seems doubtful as they have schedule conflicts with international matches.
A BCCI source, who didn’t want to be named, told PTI that the board is not bothered about Kohli and Sharma’s long-term plans right now. Their focus is on the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup next year.
The source added if Kohli and Sharma have plans they will communicate it to the BCCI, as they did before the England Test tour. The team’s focus is on T20 World Cup in February and the preparation for it. The immediate priority is to select the best possible team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, assuming all players are fit and available.
The report clarified that the BCCI won’t rush into any decision on Kohli and Sharma as they are popular. PTI also debunked the rumors that the BCCI has offered them a farewell game in Sydney on October 25, a source confirmed that no such conversation has taken place.
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They were supposed to return to international cricket for the first time since the Champions Trophy in March with a tour of Bangladesh but that series was cancelled. India’s next ODI series is against Australia from October 19-25. Some in the BCCI want Kohli and Sharma to prepare for the Australia series by playing in a few India A matches at home against Australia A, which will include Jake Fraser-McGurk. These three matches are scheduled in Kanpur on September 30, October 3 and October 5, coinciding with the senior team’s first Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad.
Kohli and Sharma last played for India in the Champions Trophy in the UAE earlier this year where India won. Since the end of the Indian Premier League neither has played competitive cricket.
