Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the selection committee, recently spoke about the future of modern-day greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Ajit Agarkar has hinted at a turnaround in the Indian cricket team, asserting that the fate of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be decided after the 2025 UCC Champions Trophy.
The future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in international cricket has come under scrutiny after poor performances during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia. Their struggles led to discussions about whether to continue their careers after the upcoming Champions Cup.
The Indian team's move is likely to happen sooner rather than later
India faces the challenge of moving on from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the next generation of players. Recent poor performances in Test cricket, including a 0-3 loss at home to New Zealand and a 1-3 defeat in Australia, have intensified discussions about the futures of these two players.
Pundits and experts have questioned whether Kohli and Rohit will remain in the squad for India's upcoming tour of England, which will mark the start of a new cycle for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The Champions Trophy would likely signal the end of an era for both players if they fail to find success.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were exceptional performers in one-day cricket – Ajit Agarkar
During a press conference in Mumbai regarding the Champions Trophy squad announcement, Ajit Agarkar was asked about the transition phase for the Indian team. Agarkar confirmed that the fate of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be decided after the ICC tournament.
Agarkar acknowledged their exceptional performance in one-day cricket and stressed that the focus remains on the Champions Trophy. He added that after the tournament there will be more time to evaluate the team's directions and plans for the future.
“It's one month until the Champions Trophy. These guys have been exceptional performers in one-day cricket… We'll see once the Champions Trophy is done, we'll have more time to sit back and assess where everyone is. Not just one player but where we go forward.” “But right now, the focus is on one-day cricket and the Champions Trophy,” Ajit Agarkar said.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to play the three-match ODI series against England
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play in India's three-match ODI series against England, starting February 6 in Nagpur. Next, India will begin their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Virat Kohli was the top run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup, amassing 765 runs at an impressive average of 95.62, including three centuries and six fifties. Rohit Sharma was the second highest run-scorer, scoring 597 runs in 11 innings at an average of 54.27 and an impressive strike rate of 125.95.
