Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis believes that India’s stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will decide when to retire based on how their bodies respond to the demands of the game.
Speaking to ANI, Kallis said such decisions depend largely on fitness levels and personal readiness, especially at the later stage of a player’s career.
“He (Virat Kohli) obviously knows his body when you want to call it quits. Hopefully, he goes out to the bank. He certainly deserves it. Fantastic player (Rohit Sharma) and hopefully he also deserves to go out to the bank.”
When Kohli and Rohit retired from the other two formats and decided to continue only in ODIs, several experts felt it would be difficult for them to secure a place in India’s squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. Concerns were raised over workload management, age, and whether they could still maintain the consistency required at the highest level.
However, both players have responded strongly to their critics through performances. Rohit Sharma was the highest run-getter in the ODI series against Australia, scoring 202 runs from three matches at an outstanding average of 101. His tally included one century and one half-century, underlining his importance at the top of the order.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, endured a tough start in the Australia series, registering two consecutive ducks. However, he bounced back in the third match with an unbeaten 74, showing his ability to recover quickly from setbacks.
Kohli then carried his form into the subsequent home series against South Africa. He produced a dominant display, scoring two back-to-back centuries followed by an unbeaten half-century in the third match. Across the series, Kohli amassed 302 runs at a remarkable average of 152, once again proving his value in the ODI format.
Rohit also made valuable contributions in the South Africa series, scoring 146 runs from three matches at an average of 48.67. His consistency at the top ensured solid starts for the Indian batting line-up.
In the first match of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Kohli continued his impressive run of form. He was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 93, guiding India to a crucial victory and reinforcing his credentials as one of the most reliable batters in the format.
With consistent performances from both veterans, Kohli and Rohit have made a strong case for their continued presence in India’s ODI setup ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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