Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma thrown out of India's ODI future based on..

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has made a huge revelation about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's cricketing future ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. Pathan revealed that he had a long call with Rohit Sharma about his future in cricket, adding that the batter wants to continue playing for India.

There have been speculations about the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It was reported that the upcoming tour of Australia could be their last international series. However, Rohit recently cleared the BCCI’s mandatory pre-season fitness test at the Centre of Excellence amid rumors about his future.

Had a Long Call to Learn About Rohit Sharma’s Future Plans - Irfan Pathan

Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Irfan Pathan said that Rohit Sharma has no plans to step away from international cricket. Pathan mentioned that he had a detailed conversation with the Indian captain. He described Rohit as one of India’s finest white-ball players and a proven leader.

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"I have been following those fitness tests. This new test (Bronco) is not easy either. Once you clear it, it means that your fitness is top-notch," Irfan Pathan told reporters.

"I also had a long call to learn about his future plans, and he said he is very keen on making sure that he continues playing. This guy has been a fantastic leader, outstanding white-ball cricketer, and ODI cricket great. He is also a great leader. We still go back to that 2023 ODI World Cup final, and it was Rohit who had the biggest heartbreak. But he wants to continue as a player," he added.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Have Retired from Tests and T20Is - Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan said that Rohit and Virat Kohli may face a lack of match practice in the 50-over format. With only 27 ODIs scheduled before the tournament, Pathan noted that the long gaps between games could affect their rhythm.

"As I said earlier as well, age does not matter if a player is fit. But the challenge will be to have a game time, because there will be a lot of gaps in terms of playing 50-over cricket."

"There won't be any problem with motivation when it comes to playing for India, be it Kohli or Rohit, or Shami, but what matters is how much cricket they can continue playing cricket and the game time they have, in whatever format. Kohli and Rohit have retired from Tests and T20Is, so this will be the only challenge they have," he added.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Aim to Extend ODI Careers Until 2027 World Cup

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, now active only in ODIs, are hoping to prolong their careers until the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Both retired from Test cricket earlier this year, having already stepped away from T20Is after India’s 2024 World Cup triumph.

Their last appearance for India came in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Rohit led the team to victory over New Zealand in the final. Since then, he hasn’t played any competitive cricket apart from the IPL 2025.

Rohit, who has often spoken about his ambition to feature in the next ODI World Cup, is set to return in India’s three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19 in Perth. However, maintaining match fitness and rhythm will remain a challenge.

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