Are Kohli and Rohit Planning ODI Retirement Post-Australia Tour?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma haven’t played international cricket since the Champions Trophy a few months ago. Both have retired from Tests and T20Is, leaving ODIs as the only format they still feature in. Virat is 36, and Rohit is 38, and it’s uncertain whether they’ll be around for the 2027 World Cup.
Their next chance to play for India could come in the upcoming ODI series against Australia followed by matches against South Africa. After that, they may have a few more opportunities in the six ODIs against New Zealand and England between January and July 2026. Simply put, their chances will be few.
Is the Australia Series the Last ODI for Kohli and Rohit?
According to the national daily, the Australia series could be the last time we see Kohli and Rohit feature in ODIs for India, and they may announce their retirement after the series. The report, citing a BCCI source, further adds that if both players indeed have the 2027 World Cup in mind, they will need to play the Vijay Hazare Troph, India’s premier domestic one-day tournament – in December this year.
This is similar to how Indian players were asked to play in the Ranji Trophy before the England tour earlier this year.
The main reason for possibly moving on from Rohit and Kohli in ODIs is because India has a lot of young, talented players coming up in white-ball cricket. According to the report, the BCCI and selectors are thinking ahead about the 2027 World Cup team.
BCCI Focuses on Bringing in Young Players
While both Rohit and Kohli turned out for their respective sides in the Ranji Trophy after a poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they had announced their retirements from the longer format in May, before the squad for the England tour was announced. They also took their T20I retirements together, soon after India clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.
India’s next ODI series will be an away tour to Australia, starting on October 19. The games will take place in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney.
India’s Upcoming ODI Schedule (2025 & 2026)
| Year | Month | Opponent | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December | South Africa | ODI |
| 2026 | January | New Zealand | ODI |
| 2026 | June | Afghanistan | ODI |
| 2026 | July | England | ODI |
| 2026 | September | West Indies | ODI |
| 2026 | October | New Zealand | ODI |