India is set to play a minimum of 24 ODI matches leading up to the 2027 World Cup. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket has left the Indian team undergoing a major transition, just weeks before the selection meeting for the England tour in late June.
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test Retirement Shakes Up Indian Cricket Ahead of England Tour
In a span of just five days, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from Test cricket, leaving the Indian team facing a major transition just weeks before the scheduled selection meeting for the England tour in late June. After retiring from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup win in June 2024, the two stalwarts are now focused solely on ODIs, the format where they have dominated the most.
Rohit officially ended his Test career on May 7, putting to rest months of speculation about his future in the format, including his captaincy. Kohli followed suit on Monday with an emotional post on Instagram. Their announcements came just as the cricket world was taking a brief respite from the IPL 2025.
While experts have raised concerns about the void left by Kohli and Rohit’s retirement, particularly with the upcoming England tour, fans are eagerly awaiting their next international appearance, which will likely be in the ODI format. With the T20 World Cup set for 2026 and the 50-over World Cup in 2027, India has a busy schedule ahead, meaning Kohli and Rohit will remain active in the white-ball format through 2026. Their first international appearance after their Test retirement may come in August with India’s tour of Bangladesh, though the tour is yet to be confirmed. If cancelled, their return could be delayed until late October.
India 2025 remaining ODI schedule (as per ICC FTP)
Bangladesh vs India, August 2025 – 3 ODIs (August 17-23)*
Australia vs India, October 2025 – 3 ODIs (October 19-25)
India vs South Africa, Nov-Dec 2025 – 3 ODIs (November 30-December 6)
India vs New Zealand, January 2026 – 3 ODIs
India vs Afghanistan, June 2026 – 3 ODIS
India vs West Indies, September 2026 – 3 ODIs
New Zealand vs India, Oct-Nov 2026 – 3 ODIs
India vs Sri Lanka, December 2026 – 3 ODIs
Will Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli play in 2027 World Cup?
Following a difficult tour of Australia, where their Test careers came under intense scrutiny, many speculated that the 2024 Champions Trophy could mark the end of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s international careers. There was widespread fear among fans that, like their decision after the T20 World Cup in Barbados, they might also retire from ODIs if India claimed the Champions Trophy title. However, both players put those fears to rest after their performances in Dubai, striking down the narrative surrounding their futures.
A month later, Kohli confirmed his intentions to continue in the 50-over format, setting his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. In a video that went viral, he said, “The Next Big Step? I Don’t Know. Maybe Try To Win The Next World Cup 2027.”
In a recent interview with journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel, Rohit expressed his desire to avenge India’s heartbreaking loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in 2027. However, he remained cautious when committing to his participation, acknowledging that various factors would influence his selection. “It will be good if that happens,” Rohit said about the possibility of a World Cup comeback. After a brief pause, he added, “I don’t think that far ahead. A lot of things depend, like my form and how I manage myself,” emphasizing the importance of staying in form and managing his fitness for a successful return to the tournament.