As the India-West Indies Test series comes to a close in Delhi, the focus has once again turned to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of their much-awaited return to the team in Australia later this month.
Fans have been waiting for both the stars to return to India colors in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia, but legendary spinner Anil Kumble hinted that their time is now over.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the face of Indian cricket for many years, but now they are entering the final stages of their careers.
Indian fans are waiting for the return of Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma
Rohit, 38, was recently removed as India’s ODI captain, while Kohli, 36, has been out of the limelight since Royal Challengers Bangalore won the IPL 2025 in June.
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Although former Indian captains have been named in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour, what happens after that is unclear. Fans are wondering whether he will stay till the ICC World Cup 2027 or his 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 ODIs before the ICC World Cup 2027. This gives both the Indian batsmen a chance to prove themselves again, but it also opens the door for new talent, as the selectors have already refused to ‘guarantee’ them into the team.
Anil Kumble urges fans to celebrate Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as their careers enter final stages
Meanwhile, Anil Kumble talked about how important it is to enjoy watching Kohli and Rohit play while they are there. The former Indian head coach hinted that his career may be nearing the end, so the focus should be on celebrating his achievements rather than worrying about the future.
“Let’s celebrate both the players on the field. They have done a lot for Indian cricket over the years. You don’t know what… Yes, in their mind, they are thinking about 2027,” Kumble said on JioHotstar during the lunch break on the fourth day of the ongoing second Test between India and West Indies in Delhi. [World Cup]But that’s still a few years away.”
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He further explained, “The matches are there; you just need to go out there and enjoy, and now that Rohit is not the captain, the burden and responsibility of captaincy is also not on him. So, it is just about batting and enjoying every moment on the field. I don’t think he needs to think too far ahead in terms of 2027. Both these guys have experience; ideally, you would like them to be part of the lineup, but it is better that they play. Year.”
Anil Kumble sees upcoming ODI matches as a big challenge for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
The great spinner believes that Kohli and Rohit should focus on getting ready for the upcoming ODI matches, especially keeping in mind the ICC World Cup 2027, and that will be the “challenge”. The former Indian head coach feels that both the players still have the hunger to win the trophy which was lost in 2023 after losing the trophy to Australia on home soil.
Kumble signed off by saying, “They would like to play until the 2027 World Cup and win it – that’s something that didn’t happen in 2023, with Australia having the trophy. But like I said, both of these players have been champions, and Australia will turn out in big numbers to see them play.”
