As India's ODI season is almost coming to an end, the BCCI is set to brainstorm on the futures of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the 50-over setup.
According to a report by The Times of India, top BCCI officials, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, are likely to meet in Ahmedabad after the third and final ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam next week.
This meeting is aimed at laying out a clear pathway towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit and Kohli are yet to have a serious long-term ODI roadmap discussion with the management, which has prompted the board to clarify roles, expectations, and preparation timelines.
Also Read | Viral video shows MS Dhoni driving Kohli after Ranchi reunion | WATCH
Focus on clarity, fitness and form
As per the report by The Times of India, sources close to the development say BCCI wants both senior players to have complete clarity on what management expects of them. “It is very important that players of Rohit and Kohli’s stature are given clarity about what is expected of them and how the current management views their roles. They can’t just be playing with uncertainty,” a BCCI official said.
The board reportedly has counselled Rohit to “just focus on his fitness and performance" and not react to speculation about his future.
As per the report, it also raises questions over their preparedness after long breaks, with both playing only one format. "They did score runs in the third ODI in Australia. But the series was already lost and the match was set up by the bowlers in the first innings. They looked rusty in the first two matches. One can’t afford that in every series”, Times of India quoted a source saying.
Expectations from senior batters
According to the report, he is expected to continue the “aggressive” approach that defined his ODI batting until the ICC Champions Trophy. In Australia, he appeared more cautious, taking longer to settle. A source said, “It is expected that he continues to lead by example as a fearless batter at the top of the order. The conditions were tough in Australia but it did look like he was avoiding taking risks. Both are expected to lead the batting to make it easier for the rest of the younger batters around them”, Times of India reported.
Also Read | ‘They will run out of patience’: Robin Uthappa warns KL Rahul after poor Ind vs SA Test show
Domestic game time under review
The report further states that another thing likely to be brought up is how little game time the two get outside of international cricket. The board would have liked them to play some competitive cricket in England earlier this year and is now likely to advise participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy next month. India's ODI calendar will resume with a home series against New Zealand in January, while the three-match ODI tour of England is scheduled to take place in July, making clarity on roles imperative before the next cycle gets underway.
