Speculations over the potential retirement of Kohli and Rohit in One Day Internationals sparks responses from Indian cricket legends
India's cricket legends, Dilip Vengsarkar and Farokh Engineer, have expressed their support for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who aim to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, their involvement in the tournament is uncertain and conditional.
Both Kohli and Sharma have quit Tests and T20Is, focusing solely on ODIs. Despite their recent struggles and advancing ages (Kohli nearing 37, Rohit 38), Vengsarkar and Engineer have urged the selectors to balance youth and experience, emphasising the value and experience these veterans bring to the team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has indicated a neutral stance, focusing more on upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. Reports suggest a formal discussion between BCCI and the players about their ODI futures is expected after the Asia Cup.
To stay in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kohli and Sharma must participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic one-day tournament. Since January 2023, Kohli has played 37 ODIs, scoring 1710 runs at an average of 61.07 with seven hundreds. Rohit, during the same period, has scored 1714 runs from 38 matches with an average of 48.97 and three hundreds.
Engineer believes that if Kohli and Rohit continue to perform, they should be allowed to continue playing for India. He also urges the selectors to think carefully before making decisions, using Kuldeep Yadav as an example. Yadav, who missed the England Test series, is believed to have strengthened the team on turning wickets in England.
The India vs England Test series ended in a draw 2-2 with a new-look team under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. Kohli and Sharma batted superbly in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India made an unbeaten run to the final before losing the title-decider to Australia.
Some reports have claimed that Kohli and Rohit could be offered a farewell match during India's ODI series against Australia in October. However, no official retirement announcements have been made yet, and neither player is guaranteed a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad.
Farokh Engineer, a former Indian wicketkeeper, has expressed surprise at media reports speculating about Kohli and Rohit's future. He believes that age should never be a factor when it comes to deciding a player's career. Dilip Vengsarkar shares this sentiment, hoping to see Kohli and Rohit play in India's domestic one-day matches.
The Indian media has published multiple reports suggesting that the selectors may want to give youngsters an opportunity for the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, Engineer believes that playing domestic cricket would keep Kohli and Rohit match-ready and provide opportunities for youngsters to learn from these veterans. If fit, he believes Rohit should have no problem continuing to play for India.
In summary, Kohli and Rohit's involvement in the 2027 ODI World Cup is promising but dependent on their performance, fitness, and board decisions influenced by domestic participation criteria and team balance considerations. The final ODI plans for these two stars will be decided post-Asia Cup.
- The support from Dilip Vengsarkar and Farokh Engineer for Kohli and Sharma's ODI World Cup participation indicates a potential overlap of entertainment, news, and sports, as cricket fans eagerly await updates on their future in the sport.
- Business strategies are not alien to the cricket world, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) focuses on upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, which could influence sponsorships and revenue in the entertainment and sports sectors.
- As Kohli and Sharma's ODI performances are crucial for India's chance in the 2027 ODI World Cup, gaming perspectives can be applied, with their statistics serving as scorecards in the ongoing competition to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
