In October 2025, India will face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting on October 19 in Perth. However, ahead of the high-voltage contest, a major question has been making headlines, Is this going to be the final international series for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? With both legends nearing their careers, fans have been curious if this tour will mark their farewell. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now addressed the rumours and cleared the air.
BCCI Breaks Silence on Farewell Speculation
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla dismissed all talk about this being Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s last ODI series. Speaking to the media, Shukla called the reports “absolutely wrong”, adding that the decision on retirement completely lies with the players themselves.
“It is absolutely wrong to say this will be their last series. The decision to retire is up to them. Both are great players, and they are contributing well,” Shukla said. The board made it clear that neither Rohit nor Virat has informed them of any such decision. Both players are currently part of the ODI setup and remain available for selection.
Why the Rumor Started
The speculation about a potential farewell series began soon after the ODI squad for the Australia tour was announced. With India moving towards a transition phase and several young players being tested, many assumed that the BCCI might be preparing for life after Rohit and Virat.
There are several reasons behind the talk
Age and Experience – Rohit Sharma is 38, while Virat Kohli is 36. By the time the next ODI World Cup comes around in 2027, both will be nearing 40, raising doubts about their long-term presence.
Focus on ODIs Only – Both stars have already stepped away from T20Is and Tests to manage workload and extend their ODI careers. This move naturally led to questions about when they might call it a day entirely.
Emerging New Core – With players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Verma coming through the ranks, India’s next generation is gradually taking shape.
BCCI’s Current Stance
The BCCI, however, insists that no such plan exists. Rajeev Shukla reaffirmed that both veterans continue to be part of India’s immediate ODI plans.
“Both Rohit and Virat remain important for the Indian team. They have given a lot to Indian cricket, and any decision on their retirement will be taken by them, not by the board,” he clarified.
The BCCI’s statement suggests that, while the team management is indeed preparing younger players for the future, there’s no intention of phasing out the two senior-most players just yet.
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The Road Ahead for Rohit and Virat
Both Kohli and Rohit have been pivotal to India’s success in the past decade. Rohit, who led India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, 2024 T20 World Cup title and Champions Trophy 2025, has already cemented his legacy as a successful captain. Kohli, meanwhile, remains India’s most prolific ODI batter of the modern era, with over 13,000 runs to his name.
The upcoming series against Australia will be crucial, not for farewells, but for testing India’s combination ahead of future tournaments. As per reports, the selectors want to maintain a balance between experience and youth, ensuring that the transition is smooth rather than sudden.
Squads (India vs Australia) for ODI series 2025
India ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna
Australia ODI Squad : Mitchell Marsh (C), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Philippe (WK), Mitchell Owen, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann
Written by Kinjal Walantra
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