BCCI President signs Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's international retirement draft before 2027 World Cup

Former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in ODIs after having retired from T20Is and Tests. Ganguly said that it won't be easy for the two to continue playing only ODIs and maintain their fitness for the next 50-over World Cup in 2027.

Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7, with Virat Kohli announcing his decision five days later. The veteran batting duo had earlier stepped away from T20Is following the World Cup triumph in the West Indies last year. They will now be seen in international cricket only in the ODI format.

It Won’t Be Easy - Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI Future

Sourav Ganguly believes it will be challenging for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to stay match-fit by playing only a limited number of ODIs each year. He said that they are capable of making their own decisions about the future. However, Ganguly added that the sport will move on from them.

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"It won’t be easy, fifteen games a year. I’ve got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do, and they (Rohit & Virat) will make their own decisions. But all of us must understand that, like everyone else, the game will eventually move on from them, and they will move on from the game," Ganguly said said in an interview with PTI.

VIDEO | Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99), when asked whether Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) and Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) can continue playing only ODIs and still maintain their fitness, said:

"It won’t be easy, fifteen games a year. I’ve got no advice. I think… pic.twitter.com/CLlUVSN39g

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 22, 2025

India to Tour Australia in October for Three ODIs and Five T20Is

The reduced number of ODIs in the cricketing calendar will be challenging for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With the rise of franchise leagues and the ongoing World Test Championship, 50-over matches have seen a significant decline.

They were last seen in action in ODIs during the 2025 Champions Trophy (February–March). As per the current Future Tours Programme (FTP), India are scheduled to play just 27 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup.

India will tour Australia in October for three ODIs and five T20Is. The team came close to lifting the 2023 World Cup but lost to Australia in the final at Ahmedabad. They also suffered a semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the 2019 edition held in Manchester.

Virat Kohli Knew He Didn't Have the Best of 5 Years in Tests - Sourav Ganguly

India began the new WTC cycle under the leadership of Shubman Gill, who scored a century in the first Test of the series against England at Headingley, Leeds. The absence of senior players like Virat Kohli was also felt.

Sourav Ganguly said that Kohli would have delivered a strong performance had he played in England. Ganguly noted that great players like Kohli often find ways to bounce back. He stated that retirements happen when fans still want more, not when they start questioning a player's place.

“Retirement should happen when people ask ‘Why?’ and not ‘Why not?’ As a player, you always know your place. He knew he didn't have the best of 5 years in Tests but champions like him find ways to rediscover themselves. If Virat was on this England tour, I’m confident he would’ve scored heavily. But he felt it was time to go," Ganguly said.

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