Meeting or no meeting? There seems to be a parallel match going on in Raipur, one in which the interest is even higher. Will the BCCI senior management meet the chairman of selectors and the head coach to discuss the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?
While it is perfectly fine for them to meet, the meeting can only have a very limited agenda: domestic cricket. No one in their right mind would want to comment on their places in the side, with Rohit scoring 200 runs in Australia and a stellar 50 in Ranchi, where Kohli led India to victory with a brilliant 135.
Both have already done enough to answer any question about whether they still belong. They certainly do, and the hunger and skill are there for anyone to see. As long as they continue to perform, no meeting can discuss or decide their future. It will be entirely up to them to put themselves up for selection, and then it is up to the selectors to pick them or not. As things stand today, they walk into the side. They are still the two best batters in the team in the format, and there can be no debate that all retirement talk is premature.
Where a meeting would make sense is in charting the way forward for both, ensuring that they get adequate game time between limited-overs series. That is extremely important. Accept it or not, they will need more game time going forward. Kohli, for example, looked out of sorts in Australia. Now that he has a few games under his belt, he was able to produce the knock in Ranchi. Game time is what the selectors and the BCCI could work on ensuring, and that is where the two should be taken into confidence.
Let’s be clear: these two are no ordinary players. They are among the best to ever play white-ball cricket. They have won India countless games and have dominated the format for a decade. They have earned the right to be consulted and to be part of the decision-making regarding their careers going forward. For the sake of Indian cricket, it is essential that all parties are on the same page.
Already, there are rumours suggesting that not all is well between Gautam and Kohli. The point is, they don’t need to be best friends. All they need is a civil relationship that works for the success of Indian cricket – and as top professionals, they will know that better than anyone else.
For optics, it is important that the two are drawn into the decision-making circle. While it shows mutual respect and empathy, it also means that the BCCI can enforce domestic-cricket requirements and secure buy-in from these two stalwarts.
Formal meeting or not, there will be discussions. What will be interesting is how the plan is implemented in the months ahead. Don’t forget, Rohit and Kohli will bat today in Ranchi, and as long as the bats do the talking, meeting rooms will have limited decision-making power.
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