Shamik Chakrabarty in Ahmedabad
Early into the second session on Day 3, which turned out to be the final day of the first Test between India and the West Indies, the discussion at the Ahmedabad press box was about Rohit Sharma. The visitors had waved the white flag and the hosts were on the cusp of securing a resounding win.
By then, it had become a poorly-kept secret that Rohit would lose his ODI captaincy, with Shubman Gill replacing him. About an-hour-and-a-half later, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed it at the team selection press conference for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia.
Some of Agarkar’s replies to the questions at the presser left a lot for interpretation. But between the lines, a clear message was sent to Rohit, and Virat Kohli, that they are no longer the automatic picks in the ODI squad — the only format the two veterans play now. Rohit is 38 years old. Kohli would turn 37 in November. With transition being the name of the game in Indian cricket at the moment, their glorious careers appear to be sauntering into a golden sunset.
Retirement is a personal decision. No selector can ever ask a player to hang up his boots. But the Agarkar-led selection committee, in conjunction with head coach Gautam Gambhir, has sent out a clear message to every player, including Rohit and Kohli — perform or perish. For the Australia series, Rohit and Gill are the first-choice openers, but going ahead, the former will have to contest with Yashasvi Jaiswal to keep his spot. Runs will be his only currency and reputation matters little. Similarly, Tilak Varma will snap at Kohli’s heels.
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“At the moment, Rohit and Gill are likely to open,” said Agarkar. “There’s Yashasvi Jaiswal. People tend to forget how good he is as well. And Tilak (Varma) is very close. Again, we have taken a 15-man squad.”
The chief selector remained non-committal about the future of the two former captains beyond the Australia series. “That’s the format (50-over) they are playing at the moment,” he said. “We have picked them (for Australia). As far as the 2027 World Cup is concerned, I don’t think we need to talk about it today. You don’t have to think too far at this point, as the team is picked for Australia, and you know, (we) just need them to score runs like they have been through their careers.”
It is learnt that the selectors wanted Rohit and Kohli to be part of the ongoing limited-over ‘A’ series between India and Australia. But the duo weren’t interested. Going ahead, things are unlikely to be decided on their terms. Agarkar made it clear that the two players, like every other member of the squad, will have to turn up for domestic cricket when they are free. Indirectly, it has been said that if Rohit and Kohli want to be part of India’s ODI set-up beyond the tour Down Under, they will have to make themselves available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“Yeah, I think we have made it clear a couple of years back now that whenever the guys are available, they should be playing domestic cricket,” said Agarkar. “That’s the only way you will keep yourself sharp and play cricket if you have got a long enough break. Whether that’s possible with the international cricket you are playing or not, that only time will tell. But if guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket.”
India will play around 20 ODIs between now and the 2027 World Cup. This is a format which is not played frequently these days. It would be preposterous to write off Rohit and Kohli — the two masters of ODI cricket. Only they know if the next 50-over World Cup in two years’ time is on their mind. If they are aiming for it, do they have the motivation to regularly turn up for domestic matches at this stage of their careers? Keep an eye on how things unfold after the third ODI in Australia, which is on October 25.
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