Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s ODI future in doubt: Ex-India coach drops major hints — ‘No certainties’ | Cricket News
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has dropped a major hint about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma‘s future in ODI cricket.Shastri believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s places in the 2027 ODI World Cup are not certain, and the duo needs big series against Australia to cement their spots.“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.”Kohli and Sharma have retired from Tests and T20Is.The duo are part of India’s 15-man ODI squad for the three-match series in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney on October 19, 23, and 25.The squad will be led by recently appointed Test skipper Shubman Gill, who will take the full-time reins of the 50-over side for the first time in this series.While talking about the young guns, knocking the door of Indian cricket team, Shastri said: “(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.
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“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: 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.
