Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has dismissed the idea of putting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli “on trial” during India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which begins in Perth on Sunday. He stated that while the 2027 World Cup is still far away, the focus for now remains on the current squad and performance development.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Agarkar said, “Rohit and Kohli are part of the squad for Australia. We don’t know where things will stand in two years — it could even be younger players missing out by then.”
Both Rohit and Kohli, now exclusive to ODIs after retiring from Tests and T20Is, are adjusting to limited match practice between series. Rohit recently handed over the ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill, marking a new leadership phase for the team.
Addressing the notion that the two senior players must prove themselves in every game, Agarkar said, “That would be a bit silly. One averages over 50 and the other close to it — they don’t need to prove their worth anymore. 2027 is still a long way off, and we’ll assess as things progress.”
Agarkar praised their contribution to Indian cricket, highlighting that they have achieved nearly everything possible — both in runs and trophies. “If they score hundreds or don’t in this series, that won’t decide their future. We’ll see how the team evolves,” he added.
After guiding India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, both Rohit and Kohli announced retirements from T20Is and later from Tests following the 2024-25 Australia tour. Agarkar confirmed their Test exits were intended to make space for younger talent at the start of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
“They’ve been stalwarts of Indian cricket,” Agarkar said. “It was a new WTC cycle, and they wanted to step aside for younger players. We would have liked their experience in England, but you have to respect their decision when senior players decide to move on.”
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami’s absence from the Australia tour raised eyebrows after he claimed he was fit, playing in the Ranji Trophy. Agarkar clarified that Shami’s fitness remains under observation. “If he was fully fit, he would have been on that plane. Our domestic season just began — we’ll review his fitness in the next few games. My phone is always open for players like him,” he said.
Agarkar emphasized that Shami remains an important asset to India’s bowling lineup. “If he’s bowling well and fit, why wouldn’t we want him back? His quality is undoubted; it’s only about maintaining fitness over the next few months,” he concluded.
