BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has said it is still too early to determine whether veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will feature in India’s squad for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Agarkar stressed that no final decision has been taken regarding the pair’s long-term future in the 50-over format.
Speculation over the two stalwarts intensified after Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain ahead of the upcoming series against Australia, starting on Sunday. Both Kohli and Rohit, who have already retired from Test and T20I cricket, remain part of the current ODI setup.
“They are part of the squad at the moment in Australia. They are incredible players, but this is not the forum to focus on individual careers,” Agarkar said. “Two years from now, it is difficult to say what the situation will be. Who knows, younger players might emerge and take those spots. Both are great players, but they will not be put to the test in every match. Once they start playing, we will assess things.”
Agarkar made it clear that selection decisions will be guided by team success rather than individual statistics. “It’s about winning trophies, not just scoring runs. It’s not like if they score three hundreds in the Australia series, that guarantees them a place in the 2027 World Cup. We have to take the overall situation into account.”
The chief selector also reflected on the importance of experienced figures in shaping India’s next generation of cricketers.
“Legacy players have built their reputations through consistent performances,” he said. “You’d always prefer to have experienced players performing well. They deserve respect for what they’ve achieved. Some of the conversations with them remain private, but there is always mutual respect.”
