Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma warned despite Australia selection: 'Picked because of ...'

Former Indian chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has voiced concerns regarding the selection of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. He believes it is difficult to assess their current form and fitness as they only play one format of the game. The selectors have confirmed they passed fitness tests.

Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Former Indian chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has raised concerns about the selection of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19. Both senior batters were recently named in the ODI squad led by Shubman Gill. This series will mark Kohli and Rohit's return to competitive cricket since their last appearance in IPL 2025. Their most recent international appearance was during the Champions Trophy in March.

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The situation is particularly notable as both players now only participate in ODI cricket, having retired from T20Is in June 2024 and Test cricket in May this year.

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"Rohit and Virat have been great players over the years, but if you are playing just one format of the game, I believe the selectors need to take a call on this. I feel you cannot know or judge the form and fitness of such players because they've had a long layoff after the last game they have played. It's very difficult to assess their form and fitness," Vengsarkar told Mid-Day. "Rohit and Virat have possibly been picked because of their great records. They have been great players and have done yeomen service to Indian cricket , having won many matches in all formats of the game. But since they have not been playing Test match cricket as well as T20s, and are playing only one format, one-day matches, which is not very often played during the season, it's very difficult to gauge their form and fitness. But since they have been picked, the selectors may have checked that, though I don't know how." Current chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that both players passed their mandatory pre-season fitness tests. However, he indicated their selection for the Australia tour doesn't guarantee their inclusion in plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The upcoming series will be crucial in determining whether the selectors will consider them for future ODI matches against South Africa and New Zealand, potentially impacting their World Cup prospects. While both players might want to extend their careers until the 2027 ODI World Cup, Vengsarkar suggested a different approach for the selection committee: "It's really up to the selectors whether they want to stick with Rohit and Virat or look ahead and give opportunities to those players who are available for all formats of the game. It depends on how they look at Indian cricket going ahead."

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