Anil Kumble, the former coach of India, said it’s going to be tough for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to keep up their fitness for ODI cricket now that they’ve stepped away from Tests and T20s. He also emphasized that we should appreciate both players for their achievements as long as they’re still around.
Kohli and Rohit recently retired from Test cricket, just ten months after moving on from T20Is following their win at the T20 World Cup in June 2025. Now, they’re only focusing on ODIs, but there’s some uncertainty about how long they’ll stick with this format. The next big 50-over tournament is the 2027 World Cup, and their last ODI was during India’s win in the Champions Trophy in March. Kohli shone in the semi-final against Australia, while Rohit earned Player of the Match honors for his performance against New Zealand in the final. Still, people are wondering about their long-term plans.
Read Also:- Anil Kumble Advises Shubman Gill Ahead of Tough England Test Challenge
Kumble noted, “It’s not easy for them to stay prepared for an ODI that’s six months away. It’s a challenge for anyone, no matter how great their career has been. But they are top players, so they know how to handle it, and we need to celebrate them while they still play. He added that ideally, both players would love to participate in the 2027 World Cup since they missed out before.
India is set to play three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia this October, a big series where Kohli and Rohit might feature. Kumble believes they’ll be eager to leave their mark in Australia, especially after the letdown of the 2023 World Cup final. He also mentioned that younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan should keep an eye out, as they might make the team based on their performances in England.
