New Delhi: BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla shut the doors on retirement rumours of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after the upcoming Australia tour. India are set to tour Australia for the white-ball series, including three ODIs and five T20Is.
After the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, announced Kohli and Rohit aren’t committed to the ODI World Cup 2027, there have been widespread rumours of the retirement of both veterans after the Australia tour.
But now, BCCI’s vice-president denied all the rumours and stated that both batters’ presence will be valuable for the team during the Australia tour. Shukla also highlighted that the retirement decision lies with the player, and it would not be right to assume that the upcoming series will be the last for Kohli and Rohit.
“This is very beneficial for us (Rohit and Virat being in the ODI squad). Because both of them are great batsmen, and in the presence of both of them, I think we will be successful in defeating Australia. And as far as this being their last series is concerned, it is nothing like that. We should never go into these things. It is up to the players when they would retire. To say this would be their last series is absolutely wrong,” Shukla stated.
Earlier, Kohli and Rohit had already retired from the two formats, and now they will feature in the 50-over format. The Australia tour will be their first outing in international cricket after they bid goodbye to the Test format in May.
Kohli and Rohit arrive in Delhi
Both veteran batters have landed in Delhi, and the BCCI has said that the team will travel together in a single group from Delhi to Perth, Australia.
The inclusion of Kohli and Rohit in the team will be essential for the young Indian side, as the Men in Blue are in a transition phase. The duo is also ready to steal the spotlight from the young brigade, as they have to earn their spot to be part of the World Cup 2027 squad.