In what can be a defining moment in Indian Cricket, stalwarts of the game, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are reportedly not in the plans of the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027.
Both Sharma and Kohli have been the backbone of Indian Cricket for a considerable period of time and are demigods in India. They have a huge fan following and have also been carrying the burden of Indian Cricket since 2007.
They have called it quits from T20Is and Tests and the only remaining format for them is ODIs.
As per a report in Dainik Jagran, the BCCI are reportedly not considering the two stalwarts for the flagship ODI event in 2027. The report mentions that a place in the Playing XI isn’t guaranteed for the two legendary cricketers and they need to make a mark in the upcoming ODI series and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“Vira Kohli and Rohit Sharma do not fit in our plans for the ODI World Cup 2027,” read a line from the report. This is from a top-level BCCI official. It also mentions that the duo were interested in playing the 5-Test match series in England and BCCI had communicated their decision to them. Reportedly, BCCI had told them that they were unlikely to be picked for the series.
India had won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma
India ended their long wait for an ICC trophy in ODIs as they lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in UAE. Rohit Sharma and co. defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets and bagged the coveted title.
Earlier in 2024, India had lifted the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
Virat Kohli is unarguably the greatest ODI batter of all time and if he bids farewell to the game ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, it will be a huge loss for Indian Cricket.
Notably, he has smashed 51 ODI centuries and has also bagged the player of the tournament award in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 for scoring 765 runs. Rohit Sharma had scored 597 runs and had finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament.
