What Lies Ahead for Kohli and Rohit After Test Retirement? India’s ODI Roadmap to 2027 Explained

With Tests and T20Is behind them, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma now focus on ODIs, with at least 24 matches lined up before the 2027 World Cup.

May 14, 2025: India’s cricketing landscape is witnessing a shift as two modern-day legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have now exited Test cricket. Following their T20I retirement post India’s World Cup win in 2024, both icons are now limited to One Day Internationals — the format they’ve dominated for over a decade.

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In the space of five days, Rohit (May 7) and Kohli (May 12) stepped away from Tests, prompting speculation about India’s transition phase and the duo’s future. The timing — ahead of the England Test tour in late June — raised eyebrows across the cricketing world.

India’s Remaining ODI Fixtures Before 2027 World Cup

Despite the retirement buzz, both stars remain integral to India’s ODI plans heading into the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. As per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), India is scheduled to play at least 24 ODIs from August 2025 to December 2026:

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• Bangladesh vs India – 3 ODIs (Aug 17–23, 2025)*
• Australia vs India – 3 ODIs (Oct 19–25, 2025)
• India vs South Africa – 3 ODIs (Nov 30–Dec 6, 2025)
• India vs New Zealand – 3 ODIs (Jan 2026)
• India vs Afghanistan – 3 ODIs (June 2026)
• India vs West Indies – 3 ODIs (Sept 2026)
• New Zealand vs India – 3 ODIs (Oct–Nov 2026)
• India vs Sri Lanka – 3 ODIs (Dec 2026)

*Tentative — subject to confirmation

Will Kohli and Rohit Play the 2027 World Cup?

While their Test and T20I careers are over, the 2027 ODI World Cup remains a target. Both have addressed this:

• Virat Kohli: In a viral video clip, Kohli said, “The next big step? Maybe try to win the next World Cup 2027.”
• Rohit Sharma: In an interview with Vimal Kumar, Rohit said he’d love to avenge the heartbreak of the 2023 final but was cautious about making bold claims.
  “I would want to play, but a lot depends on form and how I manage myself,” he remarked, also suggesting that selection depends on many external factors

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For now, fans can expect to see the duo in action from August — if the Bangladesh series proceeds — or later in October.

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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, ODI World Cup 2027, India ODI schedule, Indian cricket team, ICC FTP, Kohli retirement, Rohit retirement, India vs Bangladesh, India vs Australia, cricket legends