Former India coach Ravi Shastri has delivered a decisive assessment on the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, suggesting that by the end of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, both players will have clarity about their next steps.
The future of Kohli and Rohit has been a subject of intense debate since their retirement from Test cricket in May.&nbsp;
Neither player has featured in any form of professional cricket since June. 
While discussions continue about their potential participation in the 2027 World Cup, BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar recently remarked that both remain non-committal, and a final decision will be made in due course &mdash; a comment that drew attention from fans and analysts alike.
Shastri&rsquo;s remarks echo similar sentiments. 
By the time the 2027 World Cup begins, Rohit will be 40, and Kohli will be 39, with their lack of recent match practice likely to be their biggest challenge. 
Drawing parallels with Steve Smith&rsquo;s surprise ODI retirement following Australia&rsquo;s defeat to India in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Shastri said he understands the reasoning behind such decisions and believes the same logic could apply to the Indian veterans.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why they&rsquo;re here, playing the ODI series against Australia. They&rsquo;re part of the mix. It depends on their fitness, hunger, and, of course, form,&rdquo; Shastri said during Kayo Sports' Summer of Cricket launch on Monday.
&ldquo;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&rsquo;s their call. It&rsquo;s the same with Steve Smith from Australia&rsquo;s point of view. At that age, you&rsquo;ve got to enjoy the game and still have the hunger. But there&rsquo;s no substitute for experience when it comes to big matches &mdash; as we saw in the Champions Trophy. When the big games arrive, the big players step up.&rdquo;

Ravi Shastri discusses Kohli Rohit ODI futures

Shastri says Kohli and Rohit will decide their future after Australia ODI series

Ravi Shastri On Kohli, Rohit’s ODI Future

Shastri says Kohli and Rohit will decide their future after Australia ODI series

October 13, 2025 | 22:37 IST