Two greats face the clock: Ajit Agarkar on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma was 38 years and 157 days old, and Virat Kohli was 32 days shy of his 37th birthday when they were effectively put under probation for the first time in their lives as far as ODI cricket is concerned.

The two were expectedly picked for India’s three ODIs in Australia, from October 19 to 25, but the surprise was that Shubman Gill was elevated to the captaincy in the format. While it was never in doubt that the captaincy would eventually be unified under Gill, the timing of his replacing Rohit was a talking point.

The next 50-over World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in late 2027. While two years is a long time, India are playing fewer and fewer ODIs, which leaves Rohit and Kohli, who do not play the other two formats, in an unusual position.

Both batsmen are legends in the format. Rohit’s captaincy record is stunning: India won 42 of the 56 ODIs he led in, losing only 12 (one tie, one no result). But more than the numbers, it is the change he ushered in that marked him out as one of the greatest leaders in ODIs.

Rohit did not just demand that his team play an ultra-aggressive brand of cricket; he personified that at the top of the order. Rohit transformed from a batsman who took some time, set himself up and then did the damage at the back end through tall scores to someone who took apart the bowling from the word go. When he put the team’s needs, as envisaged by him, ahead of personal numbers, Rohit ensured that everyone else had to follow suit.

Kohli has played 302 ODIs in all, scoring 14,181 runs at an average of 57.88. Rohit’s overall numbers are similarly impressive: 11,168 runs at 48.76. To that end, neither of these players has anything to prove in terms of being selected for the ODI team.

Ajit Agarkar, the chairperson of the men’s selection committee, explained the situation the two stalwarts find themselves in, after taking the tough call that is forward-looking. “Firstly, it’s practically impossible to have three different captains for three formats. Just in terms of planning,” said Agarkar. “Even for the coach, to plan with three different people is never easy.”

Agarkar said that what was expected of Rohit and Kohli from here on was to do “what they’ve been doing for years, trying to score runs. I don’t think that changes. They’re still leaders in their dressing room, you hope. But eventually, it’s the runs.”

However, just how easy or otherwise it will be for Rohit and Kohli to continue playing only one format remained a big question. “They will perhaps find it a little bit alien just to play only one format, and the one which is played the least,” said Agarkar. “We’ll find out a bit more when we see them playing in Australia. Whether not playing a lot of cricket makes a difference, one should ask them, and we’ll find out when they play.”

After the ODIs in Australia, India will play six ODIs at home: three against South Africa in November-December, and as many against New Zealand in January. Between these two assignments, Rohit and Kohli have the opportunity to represent Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which starts on December 24.

While Agarkar said that all players had been told they should play domestic cricket when they could, not much rides on this for Kohli and Rohit. If they don’t make runs in the ODIs against South Africa, they will probably be moved along before New Zealand come over. If the two continue to score, then there’s little point in them playing domestic cricket, unless they choose to do so in order to keep rhythm and fitness going.

To that end, the message is clear, even if the situation looks muddled: Rohit and Virat will no longer shape the direction in Indian cricket, and how long they continue in ODIs, the final format left for them, is down to how long they can keep motivation levels up and continue to deliver to their high standards.

In that sense, it is the uniqueness of the situation, as much as the decision of the selectors, that has put Rohit and and Virat will no longer shape the direction in Indian cricket, and how long they continue in ODIs, the final format left for them, is down to how long they can keep motivation levels up and continue to deliver to their high standards.

In that sense, it is the uniqueness of the situation, as much as the decision of the selectors, that has put Rohit and Kohli on notice at the fag end of their careers. Life has not quite come full circle, but Father Time hovers, shivering hands at the ready, and a tap on the shoulder could come at any time.

SQUADS
ODI: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal

T20I: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar

Players missing from action

Five players are missing from the Champions Trophy-winning ODI squad: Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya (quadriceps injury), Rishabh Pant (still recovering from a broken foot in England), and Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested.

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