Vengsarkar Raises Concerns Over Kohli & Rohit Selection for Australia ODI Series
The selection of veteran Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning October 19th, has drawn scrutiny from former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who questioned their form and fitness given their limited participation in the 50-over format. Both players were recently named in the squad led by Shubman Gill, marking their return to competitive cricket after last appearing in the IPL in 2025 and internationally during the Champions Trophy in March.
The situation is especially noteworthy as both Kohli and Sharma have effectively become ODI-only players, having retired from T20 International cricket in June 2024 and Test cricket in May of this year.This specialized focus raises questions about maintaining peak form, according to Vengsarkar.
“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,” Vengsarkar told Mid-Day. “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 vrey arduous to assess their form and fitness.”
Vengsarkar acknowledged the players’ past contributions, stating they have “done yeomen service to Indian cricket,” but emphasized the difficulty in gauging their current capabilities. “They have been great players and have won many matches in all formats of the game. But as 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 frequently enough played during the season, it’s very difficult to gauge their form and fitness.” He conceded that the selectors may have assessed their condition, but expressed uncertainty about how.
Current chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that both Kohli and Sharma successfully completed mandatory pre-season fitness tests. Though, he also indicated that their inclusion in the Australia tour squad does not automatically guarantee their place in the plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The upcoming series against Australia will therefore serve as a critical evaluation period.The performances of Kohli and Sharma will heavily influence whether they are considered for future ODI matches against South Africa and New Zealand, ultimately impacting their prospects for the 2027 World Cup.
While both players may be aiming to extend their careers through to the 2027 tournament, Vengsarkar suggested the selection committee consider a broader approach. “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.”
Why, Who, what, and How did it end?
Why: The selection of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the Australia ODI series sparked debate due to their limited participation in the 50-over format and their focus on only playing ODIs after retiring from Tests and T20s. Former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar questioned their form and fitness.
Who: The key figures involved are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Dilip Vengsarkar (former chief selector), and Ajit Agarkar (current chief selector).
What:
