Former India coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future may not be guaranteed. He indicated that the two senior players will need impactful performances in the upcoming ODI series against Australia to stay in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“That’s why they’re here (playing the ODI series against Australia),” Shastri told reporters at Kayo Sport’s Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney on Monday.
“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 still 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.”
The two icons have already stepped away from Test and T20I formats. Now, they return to action in the three-match ODI series in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney on October 19, 23, and 25. This will be Shubman Gill’s first assignment as India’s full-time ODI captain.
Young Players Rising Through the Ranks
Shastri also pointed to the momentum building around the next generation of Indian cricketers. “(Tilak Varma’s) innings in that Asia Cup final was absolutely fantastic,” Shastri told cricket.com.au on Monday.
“Because under pressure, to play like that was impressive. There are some good young guns there in Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma. A lot of good young talent and a 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 cricket. Rohit Sharma … Virat Kohli … they know that these youngsters are pushing them.”
India’s ODI Squad vs Australia
Shubman Gill (C), 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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