'Shubman Gill and India need Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli': Star India cricketer reflects on No.1 and No.3 position in ODIs
Following their Test cricket retirement in May this year, India's batting greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have now officially entered the final stage of their illustrious careers, leaving questions over their international future.
However, India's Test transition went smoothly in the absence of the stalwarts during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with new captain Shubman Gill, along with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant, securing their highest-ever series aggregates.
India's next ODI assignment is scheduled in October against Australia, while the World Cup is still two years away, leaving uncertainty over whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will remain part of the plans until then. By the time of the tournament, Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 39, provided they continue to enjoy the backing of the BCCI and the team management under Gautam Gambhir. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that Rohit could soon be asked to step down as ODI captain to pave the way for Shubman Gill's rise as India's leader in the 50-over format heading into the 2027 World Cup.
Suresh Raina reflects on the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Team
Meanwhile, star India cricketer Suresh Raina thinks both white-ball cricket star have a lot more to give and that Gill and Team India will benefit greatly from their one-day format knowledge prior to the World Cup.
'India don't have dependable players at No. 1 and No. 3 (in ODIs) at the moment, especially when chasing,' Raina told in an inteview with Telecom Asia Sport.
'Rohit and Virat's experience is very important. It's crucial for the seniors to stay involved with the juniors. Shubman (Gill) has done really well, but he needs players like Virat and Rohit,' the 2011 World Cup winner added.
Just five months ago, Rohit and Kohli's remarkable performances in the Champions Trophy in the United Arab Emirates erased the memories of a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia. While Rohit scored the most runs and was named player of the match in a winning final against New Zealand, Kohli's 84-run knock and game-winning century against Pakistan helped set up the semi-final victory over Australia.
'They have won the Champions Trophy, they have won the World Cups. Virat won the last IPL also. For the astute leadership they have shown during their respective careers, they need to be part of the dressing room,' Raina added.
Rohit-Kohli might return in October
Rohit and Kohli might make their comeback to international cricket in October when the Men in Blue tour Australia for three ODIs and T20Is, as India will be participating in the T20 Asia Cup and the ensuing home Test matches in September. On October 19, the series' one-day leg will kick off in Perth, with matches to follow in Adelaide and Sydney.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Glenn Maxwell reckons ‘Dewald Brevis was fast-tracked into South Africa playing XI': ‘Tag of Baby AB heavy burden'
Dewald Brevis, a 22-year-old South African middle-order batter, has been the toast of the town following his exploits in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Australia. The right-hander smashed the highest T20I score by a Proteas batter in the second T20I, scoring an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls. This was also his maiden T20I ton. He then backed it up with a knock of 53 runs off 26 balls. Dewald Brevis was in smashing form in the T20I series against Australia. (AFP) The knock in the third and final T20I might not have been enough to help South Africa register a win. However, Australia's middle-order batter Glenn Maxwell was all but praising Brevis following the conclusion of the game. Maxwell sympathised with the Dewald Brevis situation, saying the youngster was probably fast-tracked into the Proteas playing XI based on the reputation he created for himself in the U19 World Cup. It must be mentioned that Brevis was one of the major breakout stars in the U19 World Cup. Due to his batting style, the tag of 'Baby AB' was associated with him. Many believed Brevis's gameplay to be similar to that of former South Africa captain AB de Villiers. Brevis made his T20I debut in 2023, but it has taken the Proteas batter two years to become familiar with him. 'Brevis has got a lot of talent. It was hard not to see the highlights when he played the U19 World Cup for South Africa. All the Baby AB stuff. It's a pretty heavy burden he had to have early in his career. He probably got fast-tracked a little bit into the South African side,' Maxwell told reporters after the conclusion of the third T20I. Also Read: R Ashwin reacts to CSK's statement on Dewald Brevis signing: 'Clarification came because a lot of people had doubts' 'He's gone away, worked on his game, and he's come back playing beautifully. His bat swing is really pure—he's hard to stop when he gets going,' he added. Brevis on song since playing for CSK Earlier this year, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) signed Dewald Brevis as an injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh. The right-handed batter was signed for INR 2.20 crore. The young batter changed the complexion of CSK's batting in the IPL 2025 season as he introduced aggressive gameplay, registering 225 runs in six matches at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 180. This performance in the IPL led to Brevis's being called up to South Africa's squads, and the batter has not looked back since. There has also been some controversy regarding Brevis' acquisition by CSK after Ravichandran Ashwin commented that the youngster was paid 'extra' by the franchise. However, CSK issued a clarification on the same, saying all the rules and regulations were followed by the five-time champions in availing the services of Brevis for IPL 2025.
The Hindu
19 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bumrah available for Asia Cup 2025 selection: Reports
Amidst speculation and concerns about his workload, India's pace ace Jasprit Bumrah has reportedly made himself available for the upcoming Asia Cup, which begins from September 9 in the United Arab Emirates. Bumrah featured in just three of the five Tests against England during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series to manage his workload, but was still India's most effective bowler with 14 wickets at an average of 26.00. The 31-year-old has been used sparingly by India, particularly in white-ball cricket, and his last international appearance in the shortest format was the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in June last year. He also hasn't featured in One-Day International cricket since India's World Cup final defeat to Australia in November 2023. Bumrah was ruled out of this year's Champions Trophy due to a lower-back injury, which he sustained while bowling in the fifth Test against Australia at Sydney in January. The senior selection committee, helmed by former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, is expected to meet in Mumbai on Tuesday to pick India's 15-member squad for the Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format this time around.
News18
43 minutes ago
- News18
Is Anaya Bangar Set To Enter Bigg Boss 19? Report Makes Huge Claim
Will we see Anaya Bangar, daughter of Sanjay Bangar, enter the Bigg Boss house on on August 24. Anaya Bangar, daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, is poised to make her mark in a new arena as she joins the upcoming season of Bigg Boss 19. Anaya, who has undergone gender transformation surgery, is not only charting a path as a transgender athlete but is also a graphic designer, actor and has emerged as a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Over the years, she has openly shared her transformation journey, filled with challenges and obstacles, inspiring many along the way. Is Anaya Bangar On Bigg Boss? According to a report in ETimes, Anaya will be part of the contestant lineup in Bigg Boss 19, which begins on August 24. The makers of the porpular show have not come out to expand on the possibilty yet. It is being speculated that, as a contestant, she may use the opportunity to shed more light on her journey as an aspiring cricketer and the challenges she has faced as a transgender athlete breaking barriers in the sporting world. Earlier, Anaya made headlines when she revealed through a social media video that she is now eligible to participate in women's cricket. Sharing details from a scientific report that documented her transition, she explained how structured physiological assessments after beginning hormone therapy had scientifically proven her eligibility. 'For the first time, I'm sharing the scientific report that documents my journey as a trans woman athlete. Over the past year, I've undergone structured physiological assessments after starting hormone therapy. This report captures the real, measurable impact of my transition not opinions, not assumptions, but data," Anaya had said in a video. 'I'm submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope. My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it. Whether you agree or not, thank you for witnessing," she added. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
