Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma 2027 World Cup Hopes Rest On One Crucial Condition: Report News24 –

There is fresh uncertainty regarding the international future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. A recent media report has raised speculation that the two veteran Indian cricketers’ ODI careers may come to a close after October. The report states that if the duo wants to stay in the running for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, they may have to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s top domestic 50-over competition.

India A Games Likely To Becomes Priority

But a fresh update from PTI indicates that authorities at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are more concerned about the availability of Kohli and Rohit for India A games, instead of domestic tournament such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With the likely conflict with India’s international schedule, their participation in the Vijay Hazare championship seems unlikely.

“Even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they would have already played six ODIs before that. Between the Australia and South Africa ODI series, there is an India A series against South Africa A with three List A games (50 overs) at Rajkot on November 13, 16, and 19,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Less International Comminments For The Duo

Both Rohit and Kohli have systematically reduced their international engagements. Following their T20 World Cup win in Barbados last summer, the duo had already declared their retirement from T20Is. This year in May, they also retired from Tests, a few days before India’s tour of England leaving ODIs as their sole format in international cricket now.

“Now, the question is whether the duo will want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that,” he added.

“Overlapping with the Vijay Hazare Trophy (December 24, 2025 – January 18, 2026) are the three ODIs between India and New Zealand (January 11, 14, 18). So even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it can’t be for more than two to three games,” he said.

BCCI Considering India A Series Before Australia ODIs

India’s next ODI series is against Australia, October 19 to 25. Before that series, some voices in the BCCI are said to be keen on Kohli and Rohit playing a couple of India A games to get their match fitness fine-tuned. These matches are scheduled in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and October 5 and they will run parallel with India’s Test series against the West Indies in Ahmedabad.

The Australia A team, including prospects such as Jake Fraser-McGurk, will tour India for the same.

Participation In Vijay Hazare Most Unlikely In Busy Schedule

Dainik Jagran on Monday reported that the experienced batters need to keep themselves busy in domestic cricket in order to remain in the radar of the selectors. But they are already set to feature in six ODIs – three each against Australia and South Africa before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will start from December 24.

In addition, India’s ongoing ODI tour of New Zealand In January, it is likely to coincide with the domestic List A competition, further clouding their Vijay Hazare availability.