When Did Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Retire? BCCI Refutes Farewell Series Buzz
When Did Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Retire? BCCI Refutes Farewell Series Buzz
Vice-president Rajeev Shukla says “no need to overthink,” clarifies both veterans remain active in ODIs despite retiring from T20Is and Tests.
Speculation around Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s international futures has intensified following their retirement from T20Is and Test cricket. With the ODI format now their only active arena, rumours of a Sachin Tendulkar-style farewell series have surfaced. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly dismissed such talk, insisting that both stalwarts continue to remain part of India’s ODI plans.
BCCI Hits Back at Farewell Demand
In a recent podcast appearance during the UPT20, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla responded sharply to suggestions of a farewell series for Kohli and Rohit.
“Woh retire kaha hue (When did they retire)? Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will both play one-dayers. So, if they are playing, why are you worried about a farewell series? Yes, they have retired from two formats in phases, but they are playing in ODIs, right? No need to overthink about it,” Shukla said.
He reiterated the board’s stance on player retirements: “Our policy is very clear. We don’t tell any player to retire. A player himself makes that call, and we respect that. We can only decide something when it’s official. Virat Kohli is extremely fit, and Rohit Sharma has been playing so well. Why are you worried about the farewell?”
The Road Ahead for Kohli and Rohit
Both Kohli and Rohit continue to feature prominently in India’s ODI setup, with their next assignment being a three-match series against Australia in October — scheduled for Perth (Oct 19), Adelaide (Oct 23), and Sydney (Oct 25). Ticket sales for the series are already underway.
The duo are expected to feature in at least nine ODIs leading up to the 2026 IPL — three against Australia, three against South Africa in November, and three against New Zealand in January 2026. Kohli has openly stated that the 2027 ODI World Cup is his next major target, while Rohit too is focused on preparing for the one ICC white-ball trophy missing from his cabinet.
Expert Reactions and Concerns
Amid the chatter, former India opener Aakash Chopra has dismissed suggestions that Kohli and Rohit should play the Vijay Hazare Trophy to maintain form.
“The chatter about playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy is bogus. That tournament will happen in November-December, but India only have nine ODIs until the next IPL. That’s just nine days of cricket in 100-plus days. The gaps are incredibly huge, and you won’t play first-class cricket in between,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
He added that continuing with Test cricket might have kept both players “in the groove” more effectively than relying solely on ODIs.
For now, BCCI’s message is clear: retirement talk is premature, and both Kohli and Rohit remain integral to India’s ODI roadmap. With the next ICC tournament still more than two years away, their challenge will be maintaining peak fitness and match rhythm amid long breaks in the ODI calendar.
