The Indian Team is Going Through a Transition, with Youngsters Stepping up in the Test series against England and the Asia Cup 2025.

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With India preparing for the upcoming World Cup, Ravi Shastri has hinted about the ODI futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The former Indian coach explained, “By the end of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, the duo will know what to do next.”

Kohli and Rohit's future has been a topic of discussion ever since they retired from Test cricket in May.

Rohit and Kohli Still Hungry for Runs?

Ravi Shastri, during the launch of Kayo Sports' Summer of Cricket, said, "That's why they're here, playing the ODI series against Australia. They're part of the mix. It depends on their fitness, their hunger and, of course, form. So, I think this series is very important to see how they go. They themselves will know by the end of this series how they feel, and then it's their call. (It's) the same thing with Steve Smith (who retired from ODIs in March) from Australia's point of view. At that age, you've got to enjoy it and (you've) still got to have the hunger. But there's no substitute for experience when it comes to the big games, as we saw in the Champions Trophy. Come the big games and the big boys step up".

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Are Youngsters Putting Pressure?

"(Varma's) innings in that Asia Cup final was absolutely fantastic. Because under pressure to play like that (was impressive). There's some good young guns there in (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, there's (Shubman) Gill, there's Tilak Varma. A lot of good young talent and lot of allrounders as well in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel, so it's a strong white-ball unit. India is much stronger in white ball than red ball. Rohit Sharma … Virat Kohli … they know that these youngsters are pushing them," Shastri told.

Shastri feels, Tilak Varma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Abhishek Sharma will only motivate Kohli and Rohit further. 

RoKo’s ODI Future

Agarkar said in the press conference for the squad announcement for the ODI tour of Australia that he expects Rohit and Kohli to play in the domestic List A tournament, after “remaining non-committal about their selection” for the World Cup in South Africa, which raised a few eyebrows.

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According to recent PTI reports, Team India’s senior duo have changed their stance and decided to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before the ODI series against New Zealand. The decision to participate in the domestic tournaments reflects their ambition to play World Cup 2027.

The Indian opener will be 40 and Kohli will turn 39 during the World Cup 2027. Beyond fitness, it’s more about match practice at this age, according to experts. The Indian team is going through a transitional phase, with youngsters stepping up, as seen in the Test series against England and the Asia Cup 2025. Under such circumstances, Kohli and Rohit will have to either perform or perish.

India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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