Former India great hints at retirement for Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma ahead of Australia series

As excitement grows over the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, former India coach Anil Kumble has reignited conversations about the two veterans’ future. He urged fans to cherish the pair as they approach what could be the twilight of their remarkable careers.

With Rohit no longer captaining India in ODIs and Kohli staying largely out of the limelight since RCB's IPL 2025 triumph, both are set to feature in the upcoming series against Australia. However, questions linger about how long they will continue. Could the 2027 World Cup mark their final pursuit of glory? Time will tell.

Kumble, in a recent interview, suggested that the end of an era might be near. India are scheduled to play nine ODIs before the next T20 World Cup and another 18 before the 2027 edition. He admitted uncertainty about whether Kohli and Rohit would still be part of the team by then, noting that the final decision would rest with the selectors when the moment arrives.

“For now, let’s just celebrate these two legends while they’re still on the field. They’ve given so much to Indian cricket. Whether or not they have the 2027 World Cup in mind, that’s still some time away. What matters now is that they enjoy their game. With Rohit free from captaincy duties, he can focus purely on his batting and make the most of his time in the middle," said Kumble during a recent interaction.

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 “There’s no need for them to stress about the future. Both have immense experience, and ideally, you’d want them to remain part of the setup for as long as possible," he added.

Currently, both players are focused on returning to top form. Kohli has been training in London, while Rohit has shed nearly ten kilograms and is spending long hours in the nets. They will rejoin the Indian squad in Delhi before flying to Australia.

Kumble emphasized that their immediate priority should be countering the Australian bowling attack. “Their goal should be to prepare well for the upcoming ODI series and look toward the 2027 World Cup. They came close in 2023 but fell short against Australia. These two are true champions, and fans everywhere — including in Australia — will be eager to see them in action once again,” he concluded.