- August 12, 2025
It’s almost unbelievable, but the golden age of India’s cricket superstar double act may be coming to a close. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – players who have ruled the headlines and the scoreboards for the last decade – are about ready to say goodbye to One Day Internationals (ODIs) after India tours Australia this October. Although we’ve seen and heard plenty of retirement talk for a while now, recent activity indicates this could be it.
The End of an Era
When Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bowed out of T20Is post-2024 World Cup, the cricket world sensed the winds of a new era stirring. Following that, their exit from Test cricket before the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle confirmed they’re ready to pass the baton to the next generation. Instead, they could be asked to prove their form and fitness in the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy, a significant shift for players who have been automatic picks for years.
This is not simply about age or statistics. Staying in top fitness and sharp to play just one format is a tough ask. Rohit and Kohli have been cricketing machines in all formats, but playing only ODIs might not be quite the same as a sustainable prospect. Plus, the team management appears to be set on transition and ready to allow young players to share the stage every now and then.
Domestic Cricket
One of the many shocking aspects of this story up until now is the impact of the domestic cricketing landscape on the future of veterans. The BCCI has been at pains to note that domestic performances will mean a lot starting after the Border-Gavaskar series defeat in 2024-25. New conditions include contracting domestic players, which may have ramifications for star players like Rohit and Kohli since not only are they required to play in domestic tournaments.
The idea of Sharma or Kohli proving their mettle in state cricket feels like asking Picasso to start with finger painting. This is almost poetic – a reminder that cricket is about form, not only celebrity. The new format puts pressure, but no more than a fair selection process. I can fully appreciate semi-retired veterans’ arguments to retire after the series with Australia, and allow for new-style players in the ODI squad, while it all will change again anyway.
What This Means for Indian Cricket and Fans
When fans and the team lose Rohit and Kohli from ODIs, it will be a big emotional moment for everyone – these two players have been the Indian batting for years with tons of match-winning performances. But in cricket, it is all about moving forward. The team management is right to focus on developing the next group of players, because they should be doing it.
The upcoming Australia series is not just a handful of cricket games, but a figurative fork in the road. It will mark the end of one chapter, and the beginning of some others for Team India. Fans will see at least one last time of the old guard in its ODI whites, before perhaps handing off the baton. All focus will be on the newcomers who are aiming to lead India onto the world stage.
Now, the question is: How will Team India shape up without these stalwarts in the white-ball format, and who will rise to fill their colossal shoes? Only time will tell, but cricket fans everywhere are buckled in for the ride.
