India head coach hints at Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s farewell ahead of Australia tour
Published - 13 Oct 2025, 04:41 PM | Updated - 13 Oct 2025, 04:45 PM
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As the India-West Indies Test series is set to end in Delhi, the focus has once again turned to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of their much-awaited return to the side in Australia later this month.
Fans are waiting to see both stars return in India colors in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia, but the legendary spinner Anil Kumble hinted that their time is up now.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the faces of Indian cricket for many years, but now they are entering the final stage of their careers.
India fans await Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma return
The 38-year-old Rohit was recently removed as India’s ODI captain, while the 36-year-old Kohli has stayed away from the spotlight since Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 in June.
However, the former Indian captains have been named in India’s ODI squads for the upcoming Australia tour, but what happens after that is not clear. Fans are wondering if they will continue till the ICC World Cup 2027 or if their time in Indian cricket is slowly coming to an end.
India will play nine ODIs before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and 18 more before the ICC World Cup 2027. That gives both the Indian batting icons chances to prove themselves again, but it also opens the door for new talent, as the selectors have already ruled out them having the ‘guarantee’ in the squad.
Anil Kumble urges fans to celebrate Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as their careers near the final phase
Meanwhile, Anil Kumble spoke about how important it is to enjoy watching Kohli and Rohit play while they are still around. The former Indian head coach hinted that their careers might be nearing the end, so focus should be on celebrating their achievements, not worrying about the future.
Kumble said on JioHotstar during the lunch break on Day 4 of the ongoing second Test between India and the West Indies in Delhi, "Let's just celebrate the two players on the field. They have done so much for Indian cricket over the years. You don't know if… yes, in their heads, they have been thinking of 2027 [World Cup], but it’s still a couple of years from now.”
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He further explained, “There are matches; all you need to do is go out there and enjoy, and now that Rohit is no longer the captain, even the burden and responsibility of captaining is not on him. So, it's just about batting and enjoying every moment that they have on the field. I don't think they need to think too far ahead in terms of 2027. Both these guys have the experience; ideally, you’d want them to be part of the lineup, but it's better played by the year.”
Anil Kumble sees upcoming ODIs as a big challenge for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
The legendary spinner believes that Kohli and Rohit should focus on getting ready for the upcoming ODI games, especially with the ICC World Cup 2027 in mind, and that will be the “challenge.” The former Indian head coach feels both players still have the hunger to win the trophy that slipped away in 2023 at home, lossing the trophy to Australia.
Kumble signed off by saying, “They would want to play until the 2027 World Cup and win it—that's something that did not happen in 2023, with Australia holding the trophy. But like I said, these two players have been champions, and Australia will turn up in numbers to watch them play.”
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