When Sourav Ganguly was President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2022, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were the faces of Indian cricket. However, three years later, the two pillars of the game have retired from two formats – Tests and Twenty20 Internationals – and their future in ODI cricket is unknown.
According to rumours, Kohli and Rohit may be leaving the 50-over format following a three-match ODI series against Australia Down Under in October. The three games will be held in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney on October 19, 23, and 25, respectively.
However, Ganguly stated that he was unaware of any such decision and emphasised that only performance should determine how long they should continue playing ODI cricket.
Kohli is currently ranked third among the leading ODI run scorers. However, Rohit holds the greatest individual score in the format.
“I’m not aware of this, can’t comment on this,” Ganguly was quoted as saying during the AWL Agri Business Ltd Event.
The former India captain heaped praise on Kohli and Rohit for their surreal contribution to the Indian team in ODI cricket over the years.
“It’s difficult to say. Whoever does well will play. If they do well, they should continue. Kohli’s one-day record is phenomenal, even Rohit Sharma’s. Both of them are phenomenal in white-ball cricket,” said.
Kohli and Rohit played important roles in helping India win the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Rohit led the team from the front and won the Player of the Match award in the final against New Zealand. On the other hand, Kohli finished as the fifth-highest run-getter in the tournament, with 218 runs to his name from five innings, at an average of 54.50.
Rohit has a terrific record in ODIs in Australia, as he averages 53.12, having scored 1328 runs from 30 innings. Virat Kohli has also fared well Down Under, having aggregated 1327 runs from 29 innings at an average of 51.03.
