Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma aren’t certainties for the 2027 ODI World Cup and each veteran batsmen want an enormous collection in opposition to Australia to solidify their spots for the mega ICC occasion.
With each Virat and Rohit having retired from Assessments and T20Is, ODIs now stand as the one remaining worldwide format for the Indian greats. The subsequent ODI World Cup continues to be two years away and the current type of Virat and Rohit has been effectively under their lofty finest.
Requested whether or not he anticipated Rohit and Virat to be in competition for a possible swansong in 24 months’ time, the previous India coach mentioned he may see it going both method.
“That is why they’re right here (enjoying the ODI collection in opposition to Australia). They’re a part of the combination. It is determined by their health, their starvation and, in fact, type,” Shastri informed reporters at Kayo Sport’s Summer time of Cricket launch in Sydney on Monday.
“So, I feel this collection is essential to see how they go. They themselves will know by the top of this collection how they really feel after which it is their name.
“(It is) the identical factor with Steve Smith (who retired from ODIs in March) from Australia’s standpoint. At that age, you have to take pleasure in it and (you have) nonetheless received to have the starvation. However there is no substitute for expertise in the case of the large video games, as we noticed within the Champions Trophy. Come the large video games and the large boys step up,” he added.
Each Virat and Rohit have been picked in India’s 15-man ODI squad that faces Australia in three matches in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney on October 19, 23 and 25. Nonetheless, India will probably be led by just lately appointed Check skipper Shubman Gill who will take the full-time reins of the 50-over facet for the primary time within the upcoming collection.
Vastly Totally different T20I Squad Of India For Australia Tour
In the meantime, India’s T20I squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, appears vastly completely different to the ODI squad and options pacer spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The facet additionally options a number of IPL stars, who’ve very restricted expertise of enjoying cricket in Australia, resembling Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and 22-year-old Tilak Varma, who was named Participant of the Last in final month’s Asia Cup.
Tilak steered India residence in opposition to Pakistan in a tough chase with an outstanding 69 not out off 53 balls and he impressed Shastri along with his composure.
“(Varma’s) innings in that Asia Cup remaining was completely unbelievable. As a result of below stress to play like that (was spectacular). There’s some good younger weapons there in (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, there’s (Shubman) Gill, there’s Tilak Varma,” Shastri, who coached India between 2017 and 2021, informed cricket.com.au.
“A whole lot of good younger expertise and a number of allrounders as effectively in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel, so it is a robust white-ball unit. India is far stronger in white ball than the pink ball. Rohit Sharma … Virat Kohli…they know that these children are pushing them,” he added.
Australia v India ODIs 2025 Schedule
October 19: First ODI v India, Perth Stadium, Perth
October 23: Second ODI v India, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
October 25: Third ODI v India, SCG, Sydney
Australia v India T20Is 2025 Schedule
October 29: First T20I v India, Manuka Oval, Canberra
October 31: Second T20I v India, MCG, Melbourne
November 2: Third T20I v India, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
November 6: Fourth T20I v India, Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast
November 8: Fifth T20I v India, The Gabba, Brisbane