R Ashwin on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Agency photo)
Amid speculation over the ODI future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, former India pacer Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the timing of the discussion, insisting that if the selectors wanted to move on from the veteran duo before the 2027 ODI World Cup, they should have communicated the decision much earlier.In recent weeks, social media has been abuzz with speculation that either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli could be left out of India’s ODI plans ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Media reports have even claimed that the third ODI at Lord’s could be Rohit’s last appearance in this format.
BCCI rejects Rohit’s retirement speculation
However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia denied the rumors while speaking to PTI on Friday, confirming that Rohit will continue to represent India in ODIs and refuting speculations surrounding his retirement.“There is a lot of speculation doing the rounds in the media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to strongly stress that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will play his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia said, 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 decided to move on from them, the players should have been informed immediately after the Champions Trophy rather than allowing the uncertainty to continue.
“I think we will go 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 Yashavi Jaiswal is pressing hard from the back, but if you felt as a coach or captain that we don’t want these players in the 2027 World Cup, you could have expressed that at the end of the Champions Trophy,” Ashwin said.
“A 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 we want to leave you, no player will like it. Even when the coach came and contacted me in Australia that they wanted to pass me, I accepted that. One bad series can happen to any player, but you have to communicate with the player.”The 39-year-old also wondered why such discussions were emerging now, with less than a year to go before the 2027 ODI World Cup.“All speculation aside, Rohit and Virat have been performing well. If you really want to make such a turnaround, why did this discussion come up only now, in August 2026, when there are only 10-12 months left before the Cricket World Cup?”
