Amid speculation over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI futures, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the timing of the debate, insisting that if the selectors wanted to move on from the veteran duo ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, they should have communicated that decision much earlier.In recent weeks, social media has been abuzz with speculation that either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli could be dropped from India’s ODI plans before the 2027 World Cup. Media reports even claimed that the third ODI at Lord’s could be Rohit’s final appearance in the format.
BCCI dismisses Rohit retirement speculation
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed those rumours while speaking to PTI on Friday, confirming that Rohit will continue to represent India in ODIs and rubbishing the speculation surrounding his retirement.“There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” said Saikia, as quoted by PTI.Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said India still needs the experience of Rohit and Virat for the upcoming tour of South Africa, but stressed that if the team management had decided to move on from them, the players should have been informed immediately after the Champions Trophy rather than allowing uncertainty to linger.“I am thinking we are going to South Africa in September and October. Do we need Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? If you ask me, I will say we need that experience. I know Yashasvi Jaiswal is pushing hard from behind, but if you ever felt as a selector, coach or captain that we don’t want these players in the 2027 World Cup, then you could have communicated that at the end of the Champions Trophy,” Ashwin Said.
‘One bad series can happen to anyone’
Ashwin, who himself retired from international cricket after being informed that the team management wanted to look beyond him, said honest communication is essential when dealing with senior players.“If you go to a player and tell him that we want to move on from you, no player will like that. Even when the coach came and communicated with me in Australia that they wanted to look past me, I accepted it. One bad series can happen to any player, but you have to communicate with the player.”The 39-year-old also questioned why such discussions are surfacing now, with less than a year remaining before the 2027 ODI World Cup.“Beyond all the speculation, Rohit and Virat have been performing. If you really wanted to make such a transition, why has this discussion come only now, in August 2026, when there are only 10 to 12 months left before the Cricket World Cup?”
