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MS Dhoni supports Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s right to decide their future, stresses performance over age, and backs India’s T20 team ahead of the World Cup.

Dhoni Backs Kohli, Rohit; Stresses on Performance Over Age

Dhoni's Support to Kohli, Rohit on Career Decisions

MS Dhoni supports Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s right to decide their future, stresses performance over age, and backs India&rsquo;s T20 team ahead of the World Cup.

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has thrown his weight behind senior batting stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying nobody should tell them whether they can continue or not, while backing the "dangerous" Indian T20 team to defend its world title on home turf.
In an interview to sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru facilitated by tile and stone-installation company MYK Laticrete, which roped in Dhoni as its brand ambassador, the reclusive superstar gave rare views on Indian cricketing matters.
"Sorry, what's the question?" he quipped at first when the debate surrounding the possibility of Rohit (38) and Kohli (37) playing the 2027 ODI World Cup was brought up during the nearly half-hour interaction.
But he quickly took a more serious tone and asked, "Why not, why somebody should not play the World Cup?"
"For me, age is not a criteria, performance, fitness these are criteria. I always feel nobody should be told anything. But things should be clear that everyone will be treated the same way.
"When I made my debut I was 24, nobody told me anything and now when I am playing for India for 10 years, 20 years or whatever, nobody needs to come and tell me about my age," he asserted.
The 44-year-old, who still plays in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, stressed on the need for experience in the side.
"Whether Rohit or Virat or other names that will come up in next five years... whether they can or cannot play the next World Cup, it's not for us to decide, it's for them to decide. If they keep playing well, if they have the urge to do well for the country, then why not," he said.
"You can't get experienced people. You can't get a 20-year-old who is experienced unless it's a Sachin Tendulkar! You know you get experience at that age only if you start playing when you're 16 or 17."
Dhoni said a player cannot be considered experienced unless he has handled pressure for a prolonged time in his career.
"If you're calling 20 games and 25 games as experience, then they are not experienced because you need people to be under the pump in the job that they are doing.
"...I have to play 80 games, 85 games to experience that and then to know how to tame my heart, how to tame my emotion, how to handle the pressure. So I feel the right combination of experience and youthfulness is very important."
India's current head coach Gautam Gambhir has been non-committal on the future of Rohit and Kohli, both of whom only play ODIs now.
Dhoni said any player who is able to stay fit and perform should be able to keep his place irrespective of their age.
"Treat everyone equally. People are performing, they'll be there. People are not performing, they won't be there...if the guy is not fit you can chuck him out at any point of time. If he's not performing anyways you'll check him out.
"So there should not be any question regarding any individual when it comes to selection. There's only one criteria. You're performing, you're fit, keep on playing.
 India dangerous but beware of dew The discussion then moved towards the T20 World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Dhoni was the first Indian captain to win it back in 2007 and when asked about the chances of the Suryakumar Yadav-led current side, he said the hosts will have to be mindful of the dew factor at this time of the year.
"It's one of the most dangerous teams...what all is needed in a good team, everything is there. They have the experience especially when it comes to this format, the experience is vast.
"They have played under pressure. What worries me, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. So even when I was playing, you know, something that really scared me was dew where the toss becomes crucial," he explained.
"You know, nobody should get injured, whatever roles are given, people should accomplish their roles for the team. And if that's the case, I don't want to jinx it by saying anything, but it's one of the most dangerous teams," he said.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has named Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh as crucial players for India’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, highlighting their impact in key phases.

Rohit Sharma identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has named Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh as crucial players for India&rsquo;s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, highlighting their impact in key phases.

T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.&nbsp;
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Rohit Sharma scored a blazing 155 off 93 balls, hitting 18 fours and nine sixes, entertaining over 20,000 fans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Vijay Hazare trophy: Rohit Sharma smashes 155, enthralls 20,000 fans in Jaipur

Rohit Sharma scored a blazing 155 off 93 balls, hitting 18 fours and nine sixes, entertaining over 20,000 fans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Rohit Sharma was doing Rohit Sharma things on a balmy December afternoon. He played the swivel pull, the effortlessly lofted six down the ground, and swept the pacers from Sikkim for a good measure, as 'Hitman' lovers in the Pink City got the best present on Christmas Eve.
On a weekday, around 20,000-plus people from the city decided that the best thing to do was to watch the maestro in action &mdash; and that too for free. His 37th List A hundred, a 155 off 93 balls, wasn't just about the quality. It was also about the entertainment quotient. It resembled a concert where fans had come to watch their favourite singer belt out one chartbuster after another.
It wasn't about the BCCI diktat, or proving anything to the national selectors, or a head coach who wants to "abolish star culture". The day was all about a hero and his fans, and by the time they left the stadium, 18 fours and nine sixes from the former India skipper had more than satiated their appetite.
By 9 am, all roads led to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. On the morning of a working day, if 80 per cent of a stadium is full, you can understand why stars are so intrinsic to Indian cricket. People skipped jobs, students bunked college, and Rajasthan Sports Council employees, who had the best view from the balconies of their building, didn't want to be left out either.
The now-familiar chants of "Mumbai chaa Rajaa Rohit Sharma" (Mumbai's King Rohit Sharma) reverberated across the stands as fans caught a glimpse of the star. Once the crowd came to know that Mumbai were fielding, a few thousand left with a prayer on their lips that Sikkim would show enough batting firepower to allow them to watch their hero bat to their heart's content.
Then there were the aggressive Rohit loyalists who started shouting, "Gambhir kidhar hai, dekh raha hai na?" (Gautam Gambhir, where are you, are you watching, right?). It could also well have been directed at national selector R.P. Singh, who was sitting near the boundary line.
Used to adulation for the longest time, the former India captain merely raised his hand to acknowledge his fans. Once news spread that Sikkim had scored a decent 236 for seven, the atmosphere changed. There were no empty seats across three stands, save the one above the dressing room, which was closed for security reasons.
There were also enough people willing to put their bones and joints at risk, sitting precariously on the edge of the terrace atop the Sports Council building. They didn't care if Angkrish Raghuvanshi existed &mdash; every dot ball he played was met with boos.
But once Rohit hit his first pick-up swivel pull behind square off Kranthi Kumar, the decibel levels rose. Truth be told, Sikkim's bowlers &mdash; Kranthi, Palzor and left-arm spinner Gurinder &mdash; were overawed and lacked quality. There were too many half-trackers.
In fact, Rohit went down on one knee and swept seamer Palzor behind square. There were two catches dropped, but who cared? Rohit knew the quality of the attack and his 62-ball century and 91-ball 150 were followed by a fleeting moment of bat-raising.
Finally, Kranthi Kumar's wide delivery found the edge of his bat. It was a tired-looking shot. But there had been enough entertainment on a working day, and fans began to vacate the stands thereafter.
The Hitman carnival was over for the day, but not before another customised Rohit Sharma rhyme echoed across the venue: "Dal Baati Choorma, Rohit Sharma Soorma." The 'Soorma' (master) will have another concert on Friday, and it promises to be another houseful.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Stars and Emerging Talents Set to Shine

Vijay Hazare: Star Cricketers & Future Prospects

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

The charismatic presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma alongside a host of top India cricketers lends unprecedented gravitas to the Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy beginning on Wednesday, giving all of them a chance to prove a point amid a renewed focus on domestic grind.
The velvety tapestry of superstars also features Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma among others but none attracts as much attention as Kohli and Rohit.
Their appearance has a direct link to the BCCI's decision of making at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches mandatory for India cricketers. But in case of Kohli, who is playing in this tournament after 15 years, and Rohit, it is a sharp reminder that they are no longer immune to the evolving power equations within Indian cricket.
The celebrated pair remain the biggest current stars of the game but that status can't mask the reality that both cricket and time have entered the freeway. They are now the Beatles looking for chart space in the age of Beach Bunny. But watching that gradual unfolding of struggle itself is fascinating.&nbsp;
Can Ro-Ko fire?
Rohit has made it clear that he will play the first two matches of Mumbai against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26.
Kohli, who has been training with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Mumbai, has not yet decided as to which two or three matches he will play for Delhi.
Delhi will open their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru, either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or at the BCCI Centre of Excellence depending on the decision of the Karnataka state home ministry, following which they will face Gujarat.
Since his arrival in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, assumptions are being made that the star batter will play those two matches. Both Kohli and Rohit still have the power to choose their games, but what they don't seem to have is the power to choose their destiny.
An underwhelming outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will not have a say in their selection for the ODIs against New Zealand next month, but more than anyone else, Kohli and Rohit would also know that the space around them is shrinking. They know that younger names are breathing down their necks.
How long can they resist the weight of domestic runs scored by a rising star? There are plenty of them too in the likes of Yash Dhull or R Smaran.
The recent omission of Gill from India's T20 World Cup squad and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan on the back of a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a grim pointer to what might happen with Kohli and Rohit if runs don't flow easily from their bats. If the selectors can drop Gill, the current high-value property in Indian cricket, because of combination compulsions, then not many will be spared.
So, for Kohli and Rohit, this is a battle with themselves to find the inner fire in the modest surroundings of a domestic event, as much as it is against a tight circling younger generation of players.
Gill, Pant eye fruitful outing
Besides the Ro-Ko show, there are several interesting sub-plots to explore. Pant, a Test certainty, will be eager to bring himself back in contention for white ball formats selection. The wicketkeeper batter has not represented the country in either ODIs or T20Is since August 2024.
Gill, on the other hand, will be picking himself up after the selectors' call to overlook him for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The right-hander will be aiming to vent some of that frustration while turning out for Punjab.
For Gill, it will be a good warm-up ahead of next month's three-match ODI series against New Zealand in which he will lead India.
Will young bowling talents emerge?
Another pertinent point could be the interest of selectors in young bowlers in this edition of the tournament, particularly on the pacers. Since Mohammed Siraj came through the Ranji Trophy circuit a few years back, no young talent has been able to produce compelling outings to break into the established Indian pace order.
Even the support line -- consisting of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep -- has not been consistent enough. In that context, Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Gurnoor Brar (Punjab), Yudhvir Singh (J&amp;K), Anuj Thakral (Haryana) and Sakib Hussain (Bihar) etc will evoke keen interest from the selectors.
Matches start at 9 am.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma says he thought about retiring after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, calling it the toughest phase of his career.

Rohit Sharma Contemplated Retirement After 2023 ODI World Cup Loss

Rohit Sharma's Retirement Consideration Post-World Cup

Former India captain Rohit Sharma says he thought about retiring after India&rsquo;s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, calling it the toughest phase of his career.

In a stunning revelation, former India captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday said he contemplated retirement after the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he "felt that the sport had taken everything out of me."
Under the captaincy of Rohit, the Indian team enjoyed a dream run in that tournament at home and marched into the final with nine consecutive wins. However, Australia dashed their hopes in the game that mattered the most, with Travis Head scoring a match-winning hundred.
"After 2023 World Cup final, I was completed distraught and felt like I didn't want to play this sport anymore because it had taken everything out of me and I felt I had nothing left," Rohit said during a Masters Union event.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"After the loss in Ahmedabad I honestly felt like I didn&rsquo;t want to play this Cricket anymore" Rohit Sharma spoke about what happened after the loss in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.🗣️- "Everybody was extremely disappointed, and we just couldn&rsquo;t believe what had&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/wpKUjYvMYl">pic.twitter.com/wpKUjYvMYl</a>
&mdash; 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) <a href="https://twitter.com/rushiii_12/status/2002705623851602149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"It took some time and I kept reminding myself that this is something I truly love, that it was right in front of me, and I couldn't let it go so easy. Slowly, I found my way back, regaining the energy and getting myself moving again on the field.
"Everybody was extremely disappointed, and we just couldn't believe what had happened. It was a very tough time for me personally because I had put everything into that World Cup not just two or three months before it, but ever since I took over the captaincy in 2022," he added.
Rohit, who has retired from T20Is and Tests and was removed from ODI captaincy earlier this year, continues to play the 50-over format and would like to end his career with one final attempt at the 2027 World Cup.
"My only goal was to win the World Cup, whether it was the T20 World Cup or the 2023 World Cup. So when it didn't happen, I was completely devastated. There was no energy left in my body. It took me a couple of months to recover and bring myself back," said Rohit.
Less than a year after that loss to Australia in Ahmedabad, Rohit led the Indian team to the T20 World Cup title in the Americas, but overcoming the pain of the defeat in November 2023 was extremely difficult.
"I guess when you invest so much into something and don't achieve the result, it's a very natural reaction. That's exactly what happened with me. But I also knew that life doesn't end there.
"It was a big lesson for me how to deal with disappointment, reset, and start fresh. I knew that something else was coming the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies and I had to shift all my focus towards that.
"It's very easy to say this now, but at that moment, it was extremely difficult," Rohit said.

Virat Kohli jumps to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series against South Africa, closing in on Rohit Sharma. Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc and others also make major gains across formats.

Virat Kohli Nears ODI Top Spot as ICC Rankings Shift

Virat Kohli's Climb in ICC ODI Rankings

Virat Kohli jumps to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series against South Africa, closing in on Rohit Sharma. Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc and others also make major gains across formats.

India great Virat Kohli&rsquo;s push to regain the top ODI batter spot received a boost as he moved up to the second place in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday.
Kohli hasn't held the No.1 position for ODI batters since he was displaced by Pakistan's Babar Azam in April 2021.
But the right-hander is closing in on the top spot following his superb recent efforts for India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa.
The 37-year-old was adjudged Player of the Series for his 302 runs across the three matches and he was duly rewarded on the latest set of rankings as he improved two places to second overall behind teammate Rohit Sharma.
Rohit amassed 146 runs across the series to hold on to his spot at the top of the rankings, with Kohli closing to within eight rating points on the back of his unbeaten innings of 65 not out in the series finale in Visakhapatnam.
It helped India clinch the three-match series 2-1.
India ODI skipper Shubman Gill retained his fifth spot despite missing the three-match series while stand-in skipper KL Rahul rose two places to 12th overall after making two fifties in the rubber.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved up three spots to third in the bowlers' chart.
South Africa trio of Quinton de Kock (up three rungs to 13th), Aiden Markram (up four places to 25th) and Temba Bavuma (up three spots to 37th) also made gains on the rankings for ODI batters.
In the T20I rankings, the trio of Axar Patel (up two spots to 13th), Arshdeep Singh (up three places to 20th) and Jasprit Bumrah (up six rungs to 25th) made gains, following their comprehensive 101-run victory in Cuttack.
All of them had a good outing in the first T20I, taking two wickets apiece as India bowled out the Proteas for 74, their lowest-ever total in the shortest format.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently scored his maiden ODI hundred against SA in Visakhapatnam, remained the top ranked Indian batter in the Test rankings at number eight while Gill and Rishabh Pant have moved a step each to 11th and 13th respectively.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has made a big jump on the latest rankings for Test bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah.
The left-armer moved up three spots to third overall on the back of consecutive Player of the Match performances during the first two Ashes Tests against England.
Starc has 18 wickets from the two contests and finds himself moving to a new career-high rating and a best-ever ranking of third as a result.
The Indian trio of Mohammad Siraj (12th), Ravindra Jadeja (13th) and Kuldeep (14th) have all climbed up a spot.
England's lack of runs Down Under sees Harry Brook drop two places to fourth overall on the list for Test batters, with Kane Williamson (second) and Steve Smith (third) each gaining one spot behind Joe Root, who made a hundred in the Brisbane Test, at the top.

Virat Kohli climbed to No. 4 in the ICC ODI rankings following his match-winning hundred against South Africa, while shifts were also seen in Test and T20I rankings for several Indian players.

Virat Kohli Climbs to No. 4 in Latest ICC ODI Rankings

Virat Kohli Rises in ICC ODI Rankings to No. 4

Virat Kohli climbed to No. 4 in the ICC ODI rankings following his match-winning hundred against South Africa, while shifts were also seen in Test and T20I rankings for several Indian players.

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli on Wednesday moved up to No. 4 in the latest ICC rankings with a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi boosting his ascend.&nbsp;
Kohli made his 52nd hundred in the 50-over format, a 120-ball 135 that propelled India to a 17-run win over the Proteas on Sunday.&nbsp;
The 37-year-old now has 751 ranking points, and trails former India skipper Rohit Sharma (783), who retained his top spot, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell (766) and Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran (764).&nbsp;
Kohli overtook India ODI captain Shubman Gill, who moved down to No. 5 after missing the ongoing three-match series against South Africa with a neck injury.&nbsp;
Shreyas Iyer, who is also recovering from an injury that he sustained during India's recent white ball tour to Australia, stood firm on 9th position.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav gained one place to move to sixth after picking up four wickets in the first match against the Proteas.&nbsp;
In the Test batter's list, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to station at No. 9, while Gill slid one place down to 12.&nbsp;
Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant was also on a downward spiral, moving down from 12th to 14th.&nbsp;
In the rankings for Test bowlers, India's premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah remained on top of the pile with 879 points, well clear of New Zealand pacer Matt Henry (846).&nbsp;
However, modest outings in the two-match series against SA recently affected the rankings of pacer Mohammed Siraj (from 11th to 13th) and Kuldeep (from 13th to 15th). In the T20I list, Indians dominated the top slot with Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy keeping their numero uno positions.&nbsp;

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa’s comeback potential remain key talking points.

India rely on Kohli-Rohit pair to seal ODI series victory against doughty South Africa

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa&rsquo;s comeback potential remain key talking points.

The chatter around the volatile dressing room environment notwithstanding, India will rely on Virat Kohli's imperious form and Rohit Sharma's indomitable presence to seal a series victory over a doughty South Africa in the second ODI, in Raipur on Wednesday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit paved the way for India's 17-run win in the series-opener at Ranchi, where the home bowlers endured a spirited fightback from the Proteas before managing to stop them.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup two years away, Kohli and Rohit are not only auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form but are also reportedly managing growing differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The issue has dominated the off-field talk and is expected to have the BCCI stepping in at some point.
Having set up two consecutive victories for India in last as many ODIs -- including a nine-wicket hammering of Australia at Sydney in October -- Kohli and Rohit have shown they will everything possible to be on that flight to the World Cup in South Africa.
Both the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the World Cup and that has probably been at the centre of the simmering tensions between the two sides.
However, India have a lot more to worry about despite the opening win. For starters, the combination does not seem perfectly aligned. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has built an impressive record in List A cricket, was pushed from opening to No 4. He did not look completely conditioned for the role, with stand-in captain KL Rahul staunchly defending his position at No 6.
Washington Sundar is not new to such experiments as the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who batted at No 3 in Kolkata Test against the Proteas, has seen plenty of changes in his batting positions. But in the first ODI at No 5, he too was among the batters dismissed in a phase where India slowed down. And again for an all-rounder, Washington also had another light day in terms of bowling as he sent down only three overs for 18 runs.
To his credit, Harshit Rana did a lot of good to his reputation with two wickets upfront with the new ball but his knack of giving away runs later on will require the all-rounder to bring in more control, especially when only one ball is allowed to play with after the 34th over.
In their bid to restore balance between bat and ball, the ICC's new rule allows only one ball from the existing two to be continued with from 34-50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav snaffled key wickets for a match haul of 4/68 and even though he was a shade expensive, his variation proved to be the difference as South Africa fell short but then, not by a big margin.
South Africa will indeed take a lot of heart in their inspired comeback after being reduced to 11/3 at one stage. On a flat deck, Marco Jansen tore into the Indian bowlers once again for a minute-a-mile half-century (off 26 balls), scoring a strokeful 70 off 39 balls.
Matthew Breetzke notched up a fine 72 in his first ODI against India to lead a comeback for South Africa while their long tail, which includes the dangerous Corbin Bosch, threatened to take the game away from India.
South Africa played in the first ODI without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who both were rested after their historic Test series win. But the Proteas are expected to bolster their squad with their return.
Like Guwahati where the hosts were not too accustomed with the pitch and conditions, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in the Chhattisgarh capital is also relatively unfamiliar.
In the only ODI played here at this venue, India made light work of New Zealand in January 2023 when Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj exploited sharp seam movement off the pitch to bowl the Kiwis out for a mere 108. The hosts completed an eight-wicket win with nearly 30 overs to spare.
Even the only T20I played here in December 2023, against Australia, was also not a high-scoring affair which India won by 20 runs after putting on 174/9. 
Teams (from): India: KL Rahul (c&amp;wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann (wk), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Match starts at 1:30pm IST.

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Dhoni hosts Kohli for special Ranchi dinner, then drives him back to hotel; video goes viral

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Ranchi turned into a hub of excitement on Thursday night as former India captain MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for a special dinner at his residence.&nbsp;
The intimate gathering became the most talked-about moment ahead of India&rsquo;s ODI series against South Africa, with visuals dominating social media within minutes.
Kohli, who flew in from London a day earlier, drove to Dhoni&rsquo;s home in the evening along with Pant.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reunion of the year? 🥺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA</a> 1st ODI | SUN, 30 NOV, 12:30 PM <a href="https://t.co/wu2qSTn30i">pic.twitter.com/wu2qSTn30i</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1994097630440509765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The two spent several hours at the veteran&rsquo;s residence, enjoying what insiders described as a warm, relaxed get-together&mdash;something that has now become a tradition whenever India plays in Ranchi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rishabh Pant at MS Dhoni house <a href="https://t.co/L9Qh33rvMA">pic.twitter.com/L9Qh33rvMA</a>
&mdash; Yash MSdian &trade;️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) <a href="https://twitter.com/itzyash07/status/1994079726294454586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fans later captured Dhoni himself behind the wheel, dropping Kohli back to the team hotel, a gesture that fuelled nostalgia and reminded many of their long-standing bond.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BEST PICTURE ON THE INTERNET TODAY. &hearts;️ - Virat Kohli &amp; MS Dhoni riding together in a same car at Ranchi. <a href="https://t.co/ubW8mKxPuU">pic.twitter.com/ubW8mKxPuU</a>
&mdash; Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImTanujSingh/status/1994133943797600746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Videos showed Dhoni&rsquo;s house bustling with arrivals, not just from Kohli and Pant but also from Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who joined the informal gathering.&nbsp;
The dinner created a calm and comforting environment for players coming off a tough Test series loss, offering a quiet moment of camaraderie before shifting focus to the ODIs.
A Familiar Ranchi Ritual
Whenever India travels to Ranchi, players visiting Dhoni&rsquo;s home for dinner has become an unspoken ritual. The former skipper, though retired, continues to command immense affection within the team. Younger cricketers like Gaikwad and Tilak Varma often look forward to these evenings, seeing them as an opportunity to bond, share experiences, and ease into the pressure of an upcoming series.
Thursday's dinner was no different. With the ODI squad gathering in the city, Dhoni&rsquo;s hospitality set the tone for the team&rsquo;s reset phase. For Pant, coming off a difficult Test series, and Kohli, returning to ODIs after mixed form against Australia, the evening provided a much-needed breather.
Players Begin Training; Leaders Return
Earlier in the day, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were seen practising in the nets along with Tilak Varma and Gaikwad. This South Africa series marks the return of both senior batters to ODI cricket. India will also be without Shubman Gill, ruled out due to injury, leaving Pant and Gaikwad with greater responsibilities in the middle and top order respectively.
Pant Seeks Fresh Start; Kohli Eyes Momentum
Pant, who apologised to fans during the Test series saying the team &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t play good enough cricket,&rdquo; now gets a fresh chance at redemption in the ODI format &mdash; his first since August 2024. Kohli, meanwhile, will look to build on his match-winning fifty in the last ODI against Australia after back-to-back ducks earlier in the series.
India&rsquo;s ODI Squad
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

On 19 November, Indian cricket remembers the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak against Australia, celebrating the team’s unity, grit, and unforgettable moments despite the loss.

19 November: India remembers 2023 World Cup final loss against Australia

On 19 November, Indian cricket remembers the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak against Australia, celebrating the team&rsquo;s unity, grit, and unforgettable moments despite the loss.

Two years!
19 November - a date Indian cricket will never forget. A date that still feels heavy in the chest.
The 2023 World Cup was not just a tournament. It was a dream. A journey that felt blessed, destined, written in the stars. India won every match. Every game felt like a festival.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6a7a6fc4d_1763535482.jpg" width="553" height="308">&nbsp; Rohit&rsquo;s fearless starts, Kohli&rsquo;s elegance, Shami&rsquo;s magic, the unity, the joy, the belief. It felt like the entire country was breathing in one rhythm.
But dreams have their own destiny. And on that evening in Ahmedabad, the dream paused.
Australia won the toss and chose to field first. India managed a total of 240 - decent, but not exactly a match-winning score. Yet, in the hearts of every fan, the dream of lifting the trophy was already alive.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6b498d6ba_1763535689.jpg" width="554" height="309">
India&rsquo;s bowlers started well, and for a while, it seemed like the target was defendable. Hope was high everywhere!
But Australia had other ideas. After a shaky start and the loss of early wickets, it still felt like the trophy could slip from their grasp.
Then Travis Head walked in and completely changed the game with his century. Unstoppable, precise, and ruthless, he punished every loose ball and steadily turned the chase into a nightmare for India.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6bf417068_1763535860.jpg" width="553" height="308"> With every run he scored, the dream of victory slipped further away, leaving millions of Indian fans in silent heartbreak.
When the final ended, it wasn&rsquo;t just a loss. It was a stunning silence!
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6c9f8a982_1763536031.jpg" width="555" height="309">
A silence that 1.4 billion people felt.
Rohit Sharma, the captain who redefined intent.
Virat Kohli, the batter who carried an entire nation&rsquo;s expectations with unmatched grace.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6d406232a_1763536192.jpg" width="553" height="308">
Seeing them emotional&hellip; it broke something inside every fan. You could feel their pain through the screen - not as players, but as humans who gave everything.
And then came Jatin Sapru's voice&hellip; trembling, honest, unforgettable: &ldquo;Woh kaptaan&hellip; woh ballebaaz&hellip;&rdquo;
Those words still echo. They weren't commentary - they were emotion. They captured the ache millions were feeling but couldn&rsquo;t express.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6d94cdb15_1763536276.jpg" width="553" height="308">
And like many of us, when &ldquo;Khada Hun Aaj Bhi Wahi&rdquo; plays even today, those moments flash back - the lights of the stadium, the tricolour in every corner, the tears, the pride, the heartbreak.
Because the pain wasn&rsquo;t just about losing a match&hellip;It was about losing that team's fairytale ending.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6ea4241bd_1763536548.jpg" width="553" height="308">
From that night on, Travis Head became a name that haunted Indian cricket fans. Not just for the runs he scored, but for the heartbreak he delivered.
Every time he came to the crease in the following months and years, millions of fans couldn&rsquo;t help but remember that final, the day he snatched a dream that felt so close.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6f37563b1_1763536695.jpg" width="552" height="307">
He became a reminder of what almost was, a player etched into Indian cricket memory for all the wrong reasons, but impossible to forget.
But with pain came something beautiful.
The 2023 World Cup reminded India what unity felt like.
What it meant to support a team not because they were winning&hellip; but because they made us believe.
It reminded us how cricket is woven into our memories, our families, our festivals, our childhoods.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d7108bf00b_1763537160.jpg" width="553" height="308">
Two years later, the hurt remains - yes.
But so does the pride. So does the gratitude.
So does the love for a team that gave us a month we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Rohit. Kohli. Shami. Bumrah. Jadeja. Siraj. Rahul. Gill - every single one of them.
They didn&rsquo;t just play cricket. They gave us moments that will stay with us forever.
However, the story didn&rsquo;t end in heartbreak. In 2024, India lifted the T20 World Cup, showing the world their resilience and fire. In 2025, they went on to win the Champions Trophy, followed by the Asia Cup 2025, a remarkable run that reminded fans that even after heartbreak, this team always bounces back.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d718804904_1763537288.jpg" width="555" height="309">
These victories became a testament to their spirit, their talent, and the unbreakable bond they share with millions of fans who stood by them through every high and low.
Today, 19 November, is not just an anniversary of heartbreak. It is a reminder of how deeply this team touched us. How deeply cricket lives in our hearts.
And how sometimes, even without the trophy, a team becomes immortal.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d7063a69f0_1763536995.jpg" width="551" height="307">
Two years later, India still stands by that team&hellip;
&ldquo;Khade hain aaj bhi wahin.&rdquo;
With the same love.
The same pride.
The same heartbeat.

Rohit Sharma claimed the No.1 spot in ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings after a brilliant unbeaten century against Australia, while Axar Patel and other players rose in ICC ODI, Test, and T20I rankings.

Hitman Rohit Sharma reigns supreme: dethrones Shubman Gill to become ODI No. 1 batter

Rohit Sharma claimed the No.1 spot in ICC Men&rsquo;s ODI batting rankings after a brilliant unbeaten century against Australia, while Axar Patel and other players rose in ICC ODI, Test, and T20I rankings.

India&rsquo;s star right-hander Rohit Sharma has made history by reaching the No.1 spot for the first time on the latest ICC Men's ODI Batter Rankings.
Rohit climbed two places to the top following his outstanding unbeaten century in the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney, guiding India to a dominant nine-wicket victory.
The experienced batter, in partnership with fellow India legend Virat Kohli (74*), showcased a destructive innings, hitting 13 fours and three massive sixes to register his 33rd ODI century for India.
Rohit&rsquo;s stellar performance propelled him past Afghanistan&rsquo;s Ibrahim Zadran and India teammate Shubman Gill, claiming the top ranking in ODI batting for the first time. The 38-year-old has consistently featured in the top 10 for most of the last decade.
India spinner Axar Patel also made notable strides in the rankings after his strong showing in Sydney. Axar climbed six places to 31st in the ODI bowling rankings behind No.1 Rashid Khan and moved up four spots to eighth in the ODI all-rounder standings, behind Azmatullah Omarzai.
Other significant movements in the ODI rankings include New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner, who rose three spots to fourth among bowlers, and Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood, who moved up two places to eighth. England batter Harry Brook jumped an impressive 23 spots to 25th overall in the ODI batting rankings.
The updated ICC Test rankings reflect South Africa&rsquo;s commanding eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, with spinner Keshav Maharaj the biggest beneficiary. Maharaj gained nine places to a career-high 13th among Test bowlers after taking nine wickets in the match, while teammate Simon Harmer rose 26 spots to 45th following a six-wicket haul in the second innings.
South Africa batters Aiden Markram (up two spots to 15th) and Tony de Zorzi (up seven places to equal 47th) also made gains, with Kagiso Rabada moving up eight spots to 11th in the Test all-rounder rankings.
Pakistan received a boost as skipper Shan Masood climbed five spots to equal 42nd among Test batters. Meanwhile, South Africa&rsquo;s dominant performance in the first T20I against Pakistan brought shifts in the T20I rankings as well.
Pacer Corbin Bosch surged 40 spots to 53rd among T20I bowlers, Pakistan&rsquo;s Mohammad Nawaz rose eight places to sixth in the all-rounder rankings, and in-form opener Saim Ayub gained five spots to reach 49th in the T20I batter rankings.

Australia beat India by two wickets while chasing 265 in Adelaide, sealing the ODI series 2–0 despite Rohit Sharma’s fighting 73-run knock.

Australia Seals ODI Series Win Over India with All-Round Show

Australia Wins ODI Series Against India

Australia beat India by two wickets while chasing 265 in Adelaide, sealing the ODI series 2&ndash;0 despite Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s fighting 73-run knock.

Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s defiant 73 went in vain as India surrendered the three-match ODI series against Australia after losing the second game by two wickets in Adelaide on Thursday, a setback that will reignite the debate on proven match-winner Kuldeep Yadav&rsquo;s omission from the playing XI.
Under pressure, Rohit mixed grit with grace in a 97-ball knock on a spicy track that formed the cornerstone of India&rsquo;s total of 264 for 9 which was at least 25 short of what should have been a par-score.
In reply, Australia struggled against Indian spinners but with Nitish Reddy being shoe-horned as a multi-skilled player instead of a genuine match-winner in Kuldeep, the visitors paid the price in a close situation.
Cooper Connolly (61 not out off 53 balls) and Mitchell Owen (36 off 23 balls), two cricketers, who are also appearing for IPL auditions, flayed the pacers and spinners alike as Australia survived a late collapse to canter home in 46.2 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series.
The duo added 59 in just 6.3 overs to end Australia&rsquo;s three-series losing streak in the format. The ongoing rubber will end in Canberra with the inconsequential third ODI on October 25.
Connolly, who was recently in Kanpur for an &lsquo;A&rsquo; series, brought back memories of a certain Michael Bevan to finish the match by finding the gaps with ease in a pressure-cooker scenario.
In the process he also exposed how difficult it could get for India in the 2027 World Cup if the obsession with all-rounders is not reconsidered.
Reddy, coming in at No.8, scored 8 off 10 balls and gave 24 in three overs although in his defence, Axar Patel dropped a sitter offered by Matthew Short (74), who laid the foundation for Australia&rsquo;s victory.
However, the absence of Kuldeep was felt more than ever when the Australian batters struggled against the two finger spinners.
Axar Patel (1/52 in 10 overs) just slowed the pace and shortened the length as Matt Renshaw (30) gave the charge to be bowled.
At the other end, Washington Sundar (2/37) had an impatient Alex Carey (9) trying to sweep and getting bowled in the process.
However, once the burly Mitchell Owen came into the scene, he smashed the daylights out of Harshit Rana (2/59 in 8 overs) to tilt the game decisively in favour of Australia.
Earlier, the Indian innings was about Rohit&rsquo;s determination and he had to survive a lot of anxious moments in the Powerplay when Josh Hazlewood (0/29 in 10 overs, including two maidens) made the ball talk.
There was a point when Rohit had played 17 consecutive dot balls off Hazlewood and both him and Iyer looked overtly cautious due to the underlying moisture and lateral movement.
While Rohit fought, Virat Kohli was dismissed without scoring for a second consecutive game. He was shaping for an outswinger but Xavier Bartlett got one to move in sharply after pitching and the maestro was caught plumb in front.
While leaving the ground, he acknowledged the fans at Adelaide, a venue where he has scored multiple Test hundreds and a World Cup century against Pakistan.
For Rohit, the first 50-odd balls were about consolidation and keeping the bat close to his body, trying to leave the deliveries on the length and taking a few on the body.
The only positive shot in that phase was a flicked boundary over square leg off Mitchell Starc.
The first time one got a glimpse of vintage Rohit was when he played back-to-back customary pick-up pulls off Mitchell Owen&rsquo;s friendly medium pacers.
India got 17 from that over and with Iyer also rotating the strike with an upright stance, the scoreboard suddenly saw movement and momentum.
The innings was, however, far from silken smooth.
It was about a veteran, who wanted to make his naysayers eat humble pie. He was ready to grind it out and look ugly initially before eventually opening up. The 2027 World Cup is still far but what Rohit intended to prove was that there is still some fuel left in the tank.
Once the initial phase was negotiated, Rohit didn&rsquo;t look in any kind of discomfort. The slog sweep and inside out boundaries off Zampa reminded one of his salad days. There was enough time for a 33rd ODI hundred but the swivel off his hips while trying to deposit Starc over the square leg boundary became his undoing.
While Rohit got much-needed breathing space, Kohli continued to be under pressure and left the ground raising his fist for the Adelaide spectators who probably saw the last of him.
It is not the first time that Kohli scored consecutive ducks but it seems that the intensity that added to his legend has diminished considerably.&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma scores 73 to anchor India’s total of 264/9 in second ODI vs Australia; Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Harshit Rana contribute crucial runs.

Rohit Sharma Anchors India with 73 in 2nd ODI Against Australia

Rohit Sharma Anchors India's ODI Effort

Rohit Sharma scores 73 to anchor India&rsquo;s total of 264/9 in second ODI vs Australia; Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Harshit Rana contribute crucial runs.

Rohit Sharma mixed a lot of grit with some grace to score a potentially career-extending 73 on a spicy track that formed the cornerstone of India&rsquo;s decent total of 264 for 9 against Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide on Thursday.
Courtesy Rohit&rsquo;s 97-ball knock and his 118-run stand for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer (61 off 77 balls), India managed a fighting total after losing skipper Shubman Gill (9) and Virat Kohli (0) in quick succession.
Towards the back-end, Axar Patel (44 off 41 balls) did what Ravindra Jadeja has been doing for the Test team. His innings and a stand of 39 with a gutsy Washington Sundar (12) gave the bowlers something to bowl at.
Harshit Rana (24 not out) and Arshdeep Singh (13) added 37 off 29 balls for the ninth wicket to take the team score past the 260-run mark.
For Australia, Adam Zampa, back after attending the birth of his second baby, got 4 for 60 with most of the batters getting dismissed trying to attack him. Xavier Bartlett (3/39 in 10 overs), with the prized scalp of Kohli and a maiden over, also stood out.
However, the Indian innings was about Rohit&rsquo;s determination as he had to survive a lot of anxious moments in the Powerplay when Josh Hazlewood (0/29 in 10 overs, including two maidens) made the ball talk.
There was a point when Rohit had played 17 consecutive dot balls off Hazlewood and both him and Iyer looked overtly cautious due to the underlying moisture and lateral movement.
In case of Kohli, he was shaping for an outswinger but Bartlett got one to move in sharply after pitching and the maestro was caught plumb in front.
While leaving the ground, he acknowledged the fans at Adelaide, a venue where he has scored multiple Test hundreds and a World Cup century against Pakistan.
For Rohit, the first 50-odd balls were about consolidation and keeping the bat close to his body, trying to leave the deliveries on the length and taking a few on the body.
The only positive shot in that phase was a flicked boundary over square leg off Mitchell Starc.
The first time one got a glimpse of vintage Rohit was when he played back-to-back customary pick-up pulls off Mitchell Owen&rsquo;s friendly medium pacers.
India got 17 from that over and with Iyer also rotating the strike with an upright stance, the scoreboard suddenly saw movement and momentum.
The innings was, however, far from being silken smooth.
It was about a veteran, who wanted to make his naysayers eat humble pie. He was ready to grind it out and look ugly initially before eventually opening up.
The 2027 World Cup is far away but what Rohit intended to prove was that there is still some fuel left in the tank. Once the initial phase was negotiated, Rohit didn&rsquo;t look in any kind of discomfort.
There was enough time for a 33rd ODI hundred but the swivel off his hips while trying to deposit Starc over the square leg boundary became his undoing.
While Rohit got much-needed breathing space, Kohli continued to be under pressure and left the ground raising his fist for the Adelaide spectators who probably saw the last of him.
It is not the first time that Kohli scored consecutive ducks but it seems that the intensity that added to his legend has diminished considerably. India had lost the opening match of the three-game series by seven wickets in Perth.

Senior Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with Shubman Gill and other teammates, flew to Australia for a three-match ODI series starting October 19, ahead of a T20I series.

Kohli & Rohit Lead Indian Squad for ODI Series in Australia

India's Kohli & Rohit Embark on Aussie ODI Tour

Senior Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with Shubman Gill and other teammates, flew to Australia for a three-match ODI series starting October 19, ahead of a T20I series.

Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the first batch of Indian cricketers who flew off on Wednesday for a three-match ODI series against Australia beginning October 19.
Kohli and Rohit were joined by Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna along with some members of the support staff.
The group made their way into the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the morning with a handful adoring fans lining up outside the entrance to catch a glimpse of them.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and some other members of the coaching staff will leave in the evening.
India is due to play three ODIs starting Sunday in Perth followed by Adelaide and Sydney.
It will be followed by a five-match T20 International series and the format specialists will leave on October 22 tentatively. The series will begin on October 29.
The ODI series has generated significant buzz due to the chatter surrounding the future of Rohit and Kohli, both of whom are now retired from Tests and T20Is.
Gambhir, after the 2-0 Test series sweep over the West Indies here on Tuesday, had said that he hoped for the two to have a good outing in the upcoming assignment, while being evasive about their 2027 World Cup prospects.
"The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years away. It is very important to stay in the present. Obviously they are quality players. They are coming back. Their experience is going to be valuable in Australia," Gambhir had said in the post-series press conference.
"Hopefully those two guys can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team we can have a successful series," Gambhir said when asked about the future of the two former skippers," he added.

Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continue to lead ODI batting rankings with Virat Kohli at fourth, while Australian batters and bowlers climb after strong series against South Africa.

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma retain top ODI rankings

Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continue to lead ODI batting rankings with Virat Kohli at fourth, while Australian batters and bowlers climb after strong series against South Africa.

Indian batting mainstays Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continued to remain at the top of the rankings for ODI batters with Virat Kohli at number four, even as Australian players made big gains after feasting on South Africa in the recent series finale in Mackay.
Gill (784 rating points) and Rohit (756) held the number one and number two spot respectively with Pakistan's Babar Azam (739) rounding out the top three. Kohli has got 736 points.
The Indians have not featured in ODIs in recent months but Kuldeep Yadav (650) and Ravindra Jadeja (616) still remained static at number three and number nine in the latest ODI rankings for bowlers.
While Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20Is and Test cricket, both remain active in the ODI format.
Both Rohit and Kohli last played ODIs in February 2025 during the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, where they played pivotal roles in India's title-winning campaign.
Aussies cash in 
Australia amassed an imposing 431/2 in the 50-over match at Mackay with a trio of their batters in Travis Head (142), Mitch Marsh (100) and Cameron Green (118 not out) cashing in with a century.
All three made good ground on the rankings as a result, with Head gaining one place to move to equal 11th, Marsh jumping four rungs to move to 44th and Green rising a whopping 40 slots to be 78th.
Australian teammate Josh Inglis also made ground on the list, with the right-hander improving 23 spots to move to 64th as a result of his innings of 87 during the second match of the series against the Proteas.
The competition is tighter at the top of the rankings for ODI bowlers, with Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana joining fellow tweaker Keshav Maharaj at the top on 671 rating points following the completion of the series between South Africa and Australia.
Maharaj lost ground after picking up figures of 1/57 in the series finale, with his rating dropping equal with Theekshana even as the Sri Lankan spinner didn't feature across the week.
The biggest mover on the ODI rankings for bowlers came via Lungi Ngidi, with the South Africa speedster gaining six places to move to 28th following his series-high seven scalps across the three games against Australia.
Australia duo Sean Abbott (up nine places to equal 48th) and Nathan Ellis (up 21 spots to 65th) also made ground on the list for following some decent showings during the series with the Proteas.

Rohit Sharma climbs to No. 2 in ICC ODI rankings, displacing Babar Azam. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is fourth. Both aim to play the upcoming India-Australia ODI series. Rising performances noted from Australian and South African players in T20Is.

Rohit Sharma Rises to No. 2 in ICC ODI Rankings

Rohit Sharma takes the No. 2 spot in ICC ODI rankings, with Shubman Gill at the top. Virat Kohli remains fourth. Tim David, Dewald Brevis excel in T20 rankings, while Matt Henry shines in Test rankings.

Rohit Sharma Rises in ICC ODI Rankings

Rohit Sharma rises to No. 2 in ICC ODI rankings, trailing Shubman Gill. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is at fourth. Both players aim to continue in ODIs. Tim David and Dewald Brevis excel in T20I rankings, while Matt Henry shines in Test cricket.

&nbsp;
Dubai, Aug 13 (PTI) Amidst ongoing discussions about his future in international cricket, India's cricketing stalwart Rohit Sharma has climbed to the number two position in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters, released on Wednesday. At 38, Rohit, who hasn't played competitive cricket since the 2025 IPL season, unseated Babar Azam, pushing the Pakistani batter down to No. 3 following a series of low scores against the West Indies in their recent ODI series.
With 756 rating points, Rohit now trails just behind India's Test captain Shubman Gill, who maintains his standing at No. 1 with 784 points. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli is at fourth place, accumulating 736 points.
Both Rohit and Kohli have hung their boots from the Test format ahead of the Indian team's England tour but have expressed their keen interest to continue in the ODI format. The two legendary players are expected to be back in action against Australia in a three-match ODI series in October, having commenced training to reclaim their form.
Recognized as one of the all-time greats in the ODI format alongside his longtime teammate Kohli, Rohit achieved his career-best ranking during the 2019 World Cup with 882 points, after scoring a record-setting fifth century in the tournament. They last appeared in ODIs during India&rsquo;s triumphant Champions Trophy run in the UAE earlier this year. India currently flaunts five players in the top 15 of the men's ODI batting rankings, with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul seated at eighth and 15th positions, respectively.
Australian and South African Batters Shine
In the T20I rankings, in-form batters from Australia and South Africa stood out notably. Tim David, leading run-scorer from the first two matches of the T20I series against South Africa, has moved up six places to enter the top 10. His teammate Cameron Green also ascended six spots to reach 17th, while South African talent Dewald Brevis made a massive leap from outside the top 100 to 21st after a stunning 125-run innings in the series equalizer against Australia in Darwin. Fellow South African, Tristan Stubbs, climbed 12 spots to 27th. Meanwhile, in the T20I bowler's rankings, Josh Hazlewood improved three spots to 20th, as Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi moved up to equal 44th and 50th, respectively.
In Test cricket, several New Zealand players moved up in the rankings following their comprehensive 2-0 series victory over Zimbabwe. Pacer Matt Henry's exceptional performance, capturing 16 wickets at an average of 9.12, earned him the Player of the Series accolade and propelled his ranking to a career-best third position among Test bowlers. He now sits behind only India's Jasprit Bumrah and South Africa's Kagiso Rabada. New Zealand batters also gained, with Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Henry Nicholls climbing in the rankings for their impressive performances in Zimbabwe. 
 (Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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India's new batting lineup shines in the opening Test against England, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul delivering strong performances despite missing cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

India finds form after Kohli Rohit retirements

The Indian cricket team's new lineup shines in its first Test against England, showcasing strong performances without Kohli and Sharma. Shubman Gill's century and KL Rahul's elegance mark a promising new era for India's batsmen.

India New Batting Stardom Shines Bright

India's new batting lineup impresses against England, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul excelling. Despite missing Kohli and Sharma, the team shows promise under Gill's captaincy, though there's room for improvement in bowling and fielding.

A sample size of one game is not enough to make a sweeping judgement but India certainly did not miss their recently retired superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the opening Test against England with the new top-four giving a very settled look to the batting line-up.
How long would it take fill the void left by Rohit and Kohli? This question dominated the discussions leading up to the first Test at Headingly.
New captain Shubman Gill, whose record in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries was questioned, had to make a significant contribution to earn the respect of the dressing room.
Not only did he make a statement hundred as India's new number four, the visitors tallied as many as five centuries across two innings yet somehow managed to lose the game, thanks to a bowling attack which is heavily reliant on Jasprit Bumrah.
K L Rahul was all class at the top of the order, shutting the debate on his batting slot for the foreseeable future. He put a masterclass on how to bat in English conditions.
His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had smashed a memorable hundred to start his maiden tour of Australia, replicated that in his first innings in England.
There were questions on Gill's defence and his technique against the moving ball but he reinvented his game ahead of an important tour.
The way he used his feet was duly noted by the greats of the game, including former captain Sourav Ganguly, who was pleasantly surprised by the improvement.
"I am so happy to see his feet (movement) away from home, there's a massive improvement in that away from home. Shubman's feet were fantastic, didn't make a mistake," Ganguly told PTI in an interview recently.
And there was Rishabh Pant at number five, achieving a rare feat of two hundreds in a Test with a welcome mix of maturity and flamboyance, showing he was ready to change gears.
New number three Sai Sudharsan got out off a innocuous ball in the first innings before showing promise in the second essay.
He is expected to be given a long rope and the same goes for Karun Nair, who would be looking to keep his drives through the ground after lean returns from the game.
India have a lot to improve in the bowling and fielding department but the batting seems to be sorted for now.
"We can tell end of the series whether the transition has happened (following retirements of Rohit and Kohli)," former India chief selector MSK Prasad told PTI.
"The batting doing well is not a surprise as they are they are seasoned cricketers. Gill, Yashasvi, Pant, KL, they all were outstanding and have been around for long. I want to talk more about KL, when he plays like that, Test cricket looks at its best," he said.
Prasad said he won't be making any changes to the playing eleven at Edgbaston despite clamour for Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion.
"Shardul was picked because of what he has done in England on previous tours. I would give him another opportunity," the former India wicket-keeper added.
To add to that, the lower-order needs to a show a lot more application with the bat.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who has played a few memorable knocks in England, too was left impressed by the batters.
"Most of the batters performed. I would say that is a very good sign going forward. Apart from this you have got three quality batters who are not even part of the squad -- Shreyas, Sarfaraza and Padikkal.
"The main batters are in form and I am sure Karun and Sai will also come good eventually," said Vengsarkar.
India have a steep climb ahead but considering the batters' performance in the series, the selectors stand to move on from Rohit and Kohli have been vindicated.

Rohit Sharma discusses Cheteshwar Pujara's legacy and resilience at Pujara's book launch, highlighting their shared journey and family support.

Rohit Sharma on Pujaras Resilience

At a book launch, Rohit Sharma lauds Cheteshwar Pujara's cricket legacy, discussing their shared cricket experiences and emphasizing the importance of family support in their careers.

Rohit Sharma recalls strategizing in junior cricket to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara, praising his resilience and family support.

How to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara? It was the million dollar question Rohit Sharma and his Mumbai teammates discussed the most in a huddle during their junior cricket days, as they knew the Saurashtra batter could ground them to the dust over two or three days of persistent batting.
Rohit reminisced that the wicket of Pujara was often the difference between a victory or defeat for his team in age-group matches, the early signs of the doughty batter who made 7,195 runs at 43.60 with 19 tons and 35 fifties from 103 Tests.
&ldquo;I still remember, team meetings only revolved around him (on) how to get him out, and if we don't get him out, probably we'd lose the game,&rdquo; Rohit said at the launch of Pujara&rsquo;s wife Puja&rsquo;s book &lsquo;The Diary of a Cricketer&rsquo;s Wife&rsquo; here on Thursday.
The former India skipper quipped that his looks would change so much after playing against Pujara under the sun that even his mother would fret a bit.
&ldquo;All I remember is that when I used to go to the ground, when I was 14-years-old, and when I came back in the evening, the colour of my face would be completely different,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;Because he used to bat all day and we used to field in the sun for (even) 2-3 days. I still remember that my mother asked me a couple of times that when you go to play from home, you look different and when you come home, after a week or 10 days, you look different.
&ldquo;I would say, &lsquo;mom, what do I do? There's a batsman by the name of Cheteshwar Pujara. He's been batting for three days'... so that is the first impression that we had of him,&rdquo; Rohit added.
Rohit credited Pujara for playing more than 100 Tests after suffering ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries to both his knees right at the start of his career.
&ldquo;(It was) such a big injury (and) such a bad injury. Both his ACL were gone. For any cricketer, leave alone if you are not an athlete or not playing any sport, for a sportsman it's very, very tough if you lose both your ACL,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We used to tease him about his running technique and all that but he managed to play more than 100 Test matches for India after that, a lot of credit goes to him for how he managed it. Great amount of dedication and passion he had to play the sport,&rdquo; Rohit said.
Pujara rated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home against Australia in 2016-17 as the toughest series he was involved in his career.
&ldquo;I can mention one incident, in 2017, when India was bowled out for 200 odd runs against Australia, that was one of the toughest Test series I've been part of,&rdquo; Pujara said.
&ldquo;This was the second Test match at Bangalore, and the team didn't do well in the first innings, and we were again in a spot of bother in the second innings, but I spoke to Anil (Kumble) bhai about how to tackle Nathan Lyon, and he came up with a technical suggestion.&rdquo; On his part, the former India coach Kumble said he was only trying to second-guess the bowler.
&ldquo;Because I was second guessing the bowler, and I got it right after the 115 (read 132) Test matches, so it was all about guess work,&rdquo; Kumble said.
&ldquo;I would tell Pujji (Pujara) that, look, I can only tell you about how a bowler is thinking and what would put pressure on a bowler when you as a batter would be reacting and that was the only thing,&rdquo; he added.
Both Pujara and Rohit recalled the struggles made by their parents to support their careers.
Pujara said, &ldquo;I lost my mom and I was 17. But the kind of support my parents gave me when I was young and to relive those moments, because she (Puja) has described this thing really, really well." &ldquo;I still remember from my mother's advice that what you do in your life, and she was very confident that I'll end up playing for the country, she told me that you have to be a good human being first.&rdquo; Rohit said, &ldquo;Since the day I was born to now, the support of my mother and father has been immense. I know the sacrifices they've made for me and my brother to do what we needed to do in our lives.
&ldquo;But when you sit back and think about it, you really appreciate, you know what the parents go through. When you're at that age, you don't realise, but now, when I sit back and think about it, you understand,&rdquo; he said.

Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket, passing the leadership baton to rising star Shubman Gill. This marks a pivotal moment for Indian cricket as a new generation prepares to lead.

Rohit Sharma Retires: Who will take over as the next India Test captain?

Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket, paving the way for Shubman Gill's leadership. This transition embodies a new era for Indian cricket, promising fresh dynamics in the team.

Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket, leaving a legacy of brilliance. Shubman Gill, at 25, is seen as the captaincy frontrunner, poised to lead India in the Test arena. This transition marks a new chapter for Indian cricket.

Rohit Sharma has officially stepped away from Test cricket- marking the end of a gritty, flair-filled chapter in Indian cricket.
Why did the &lsquo;HITMAN&rsquo; walk away from Tests?&nbsp;
If the sources are to be believed, selectors had already discussed moving on from Rohit ahead of the five-match England series this June &mdash; India&rsquo;s first step in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The message from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee was clear: it&rsquo;s time for a CHANGE.
Rohit&rsquo;s exit doesn&rsquo;t come as a shock to those who&rsquo;ve followed his recent red-ball form. Once feared for his effortless hand-eye coordination and &lsquo;stand and deliver&rsquo; strokeplay, the Hitman found himself battling fading reflexes and old technical gaps.
The short ball, which he used to pull for fun, started troubling him. Still, let&rsquo;s not forget the journey &mdash; over 4,300 Test runs, 12 centuries, and the remarkable switch from middle-order to elite opener.
His leadership brought calm, clarity, and some massive wins for Team India in the longer form of the game.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A memorable chapter in whites comes to a close for Rohit Sharma 👏🤍 <a href="https://t.co/kCRKDeoX8q">pic.twitter.com/kCRKDeoX8q</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1920147823296737447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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As the 35th Indian Test captain, Rohit leaves behind a legacy shaped by style, grit, and determination.
While he&rsquo;ll still be lighting it up in ODIs, his red-ball goodbye was anything but bitter. It was classy. Vintage Rohit.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Countless memories, magnificent moments. Thank you, Captain 🫡🫡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RohitSharma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RohitSharma</a> <a href="https://t.co/l6cudgyaZC">pic.twitter.com/l6cudgyaZC</a>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1920160051744157771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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But now, the big question: Who&rsquo;s next?
With Rohit out and Jasprit Bumrah battling a back injury that&rsquo;s already ruled him out of action for four months, including the Champions Trophy, India suddenly finds itself in a leadership void. Virat Kohli?
Doesn&rsquo;t seem likely. At 36 and amid a lean Test run, Kohli is keen to just focus on scoring runs, not taking on the weight of captaincy again.
All eyes, then, are on Shubman Gill
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/681c91e612a2d_1746702822.png" width="487" height="271">
At 25, Gill is ticking all the boxes. consistent across all formats, vice-captain already, and currently captaining Gujarat Titans to the top of the IPL table.
The selectors see him as the long-term bet &mdash; a composed presence with a modern mindset and a batting record to back it up.
Will the baton be passed to him? Only time will tell, but he surely is a frontrunner.
Can Rishabh Pant be another choice?&nbsp;
He remains a strong contender with his match-winning knocks in Tests and his involvement in on-field decision-making as the team&rsquo;s keeper.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/681c92246dff8_1746702884.png" width="484" height="269">
But he has yet to prove himself as a full-time leader.
The southpaw brings energy, aggression, and game-changing instincts, but when it comes to leadership, will the selectors trust him?
Given his all-format presence and recent elevation in the team hierarchy, Gill looks set to take over the red-ball reins ahead of Pant.
Soon we will see a Gen Z-powered era in Indian Test cricket.

Rohit Sharma has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket, ending his illustrious career. India now seeks a new Test captain for their upcoming series in England.

Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect

Rohit Sharma has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket, ending his illustrious career. India now seeks a new Test captain for their upcoming series in England.

Rohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect ending all speculations about his future in the longest format.
The 38-year-old was India's most prolific Test batter in the second half of his career, scoring 4301 runs in 67 Tests with 12 hundreds and 18 half centuries at an average of 40.57.
Having already retired from T20 Internationals after the World Cup last year, Rohit will now only be seen in the ODI format for India.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/681b6ac59a090_1746627269.jpeg" width="433" height="763">
"Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It's been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites.
"Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format," he posted on Instagram with a picture of his Test cap.
Rohit captained India to the World Test Championship final against Australia and save the last couple of indifferent series against New Zealand at home and the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia.
India will have a new Test captain for the five-Test series in England with possible candidates being Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.
Rohit endured a particularly difficult run during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he had to drop himself from the playing XI owing to poor form but he had ruled out retirement at that stage.
There was also widespread speculation about his differences with Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, who had vowed to end the "star culture" in Indian cricket after taking charge last year in July.
Both steadfastly denied the chatter but Gambhir has time and again made it clear that only performance would ensure selection in the team.

rohit sharma

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