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Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan revealed that ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, has expressed his wish to continue playing in ODIs for as long as possible. He reckons that getting game-time will be a challenge for the former captain and even batting great Virat Kohli.
After retiring from T20Is following India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, the batting duo Rohit and Virat have announced their Test retirement in May 2025 before the five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Both batters will now be seen donning the India jersey in ODIs.
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“This new (fitness) test is obviously not easy, so once you're able to clear it, that means your fitness is top-notch. I had a long call with him as well as far as just to know about his future plans, he’s very keen. He wants to make sure that he continues playing,” Pathan said on Sony Sports.
“As long as the player is fit, the age doesn't matter. But the challenge will be for him to have a game-time. Playing for India, I don't think there will be any issues with the motivation.
“Be it's Rohit. Be it's Virat or be it's Mohammed Shami as well. How much game-time they will have and how much they can continue playing cricket in whatever form, because they have retired from Test cricket (and) T20 Internationals as well,” Pathan said.
Rohit and Virat's last international outing came in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where unbeaten India defeated New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai to win the title. After ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the duo represented their respective franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final to win their inagural title. The duo will now most likely be seen in action in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which will start from October 19.
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