Amid growing speculation surrounding the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly denied any plans to organize a farewell series for the two cricket stars. Kohli and Rohit, who announced their retirements from T20Is and Test cricket earlier, are now focusing their efforts on preparing for the 2027 ICC World Cup in Australia.

Both players, veterans of Indian cricket, will return to action in October for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Although their participation in the 2027 World Cup is uncertain due to their advancing age, the BCCI has clarified that there are no plans for a special farewell series. This comes after a report in Dainik Jagran suggested that the Australia series could be their swan song for India, leading to further speculation.

BCCI’s Clear Stance

Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI Vice-President, expressed frustration when asked about arranging a farewell series for Kohli and Rohit during an appearance on the Two Sloggers Podcast. “When did they retire? Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will both play one-dayers. So, if they are playing, why are you worried about a farewell series?” Shukla responded, adding that both players had retired from two formats but were still active in ODIs, so there was no need to get “worked up” over the issue.

Kohli and Rohit’s Focus on the 2027 World Cup

Both Kohli and Rohit have made it clear that the 2027 World Cup is their target. Kohli has previously mentioned his plans to focus on the World Cup, and Rohit has also expressed his desire to claim the only white-ball ICC trophy missing from his collection. However, with Rohit approaching 41 and Kohli 39 by the time of the 2027 World Cup, maintaining fitness and form will be a challenge.

The duo, who were last seen playing during the IPL, are expected to play the ODI series in October, which will be their first appearance after the Bangladesh series was called off.

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