As expected from India’s two legendary cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they are unlikely to play the IND A vs AUS A one-day series. With no domestic matches, the three-match unofficial one-day series could have served as a warm-up for the two former captains. However, the BCCI won’t force them to play with youngsters ahead of the India vs Australia ODI series in October.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma last played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy. Since IPL 2025, the two have been on a three-month break. Now, they will directly head to Australia for the three-match ODI series after retiring from T20I and Test cricket.
“See it’s highly unlikely that they will play the three India A games. No call has been taken on that and it will not be forced upon them either. Only if they need some game time, you could see them play one or even two games before the Australia ODIs. But nothing has been finalised yet. They are very much fit and available for the Australia ODIs,” a senior BCCI official told TimesofIndia.com.
Ball in Rohit-Kohli’s court
With the Bangladesh series postponed to next year and a proposed series against Sri Lanka failing to materialise, India had no international cricket for over a month. While the Duleep Trophy is ongoing, the two could have been part of that tournament. However, as both Virat and Rohit have retired from Test cricket, they were not available. Now, the only available 50-over tournament is the IND A vs AUS A.
However, the selectors won’t force them. Instead, it will be Virat and Rohit’s call if they want match practice. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma recently appeared for a routine fitness test. While Rohit visited CoE in Bengaluru for a yo-yo test, Kohli was in London and gave his fitness test from there.
“Those were the routine fitness tests. All the contracted players go through the fitness test twice a year. Nothing unusual there or something which affects or will have a say in selection,” the official said.
With the BCCI set to replace two selectors from the current panel, the squad selection could be delayed. Selectors will pick squads for the Test series against West Indies, Irani Cup, the white-ball tour of Australia and also the IND A squad. Chairman of the BCCI selection Committee, Ajit Agarkar, who is in Dubai with Team India in the Asia Cup, will skip the Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru. But other members of the selection committee will be in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy final.
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