'This will be their last...': Ravi Shastri makes big prediction on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI future

Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri believes that the upcoming tour of Australia will be Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's last in the country unless the team decides to play another series there before the 2027 ODI World Cup. He further predicted that the mega-tournament which is set to be held two years later will be the duo's last assignment with the Indian team.

Shastri also firmly stated that Rohit and Virat would want to leave cricket on their own terms and will announce their retirements all of a sudden if they no longer have the hunfer left to play. Previously, the duo had announced their retirements from both T20Is and Tests while not giving any hints beforehand.

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"Unless there is a series scheduled in Australia before the 2027 World Cup, this will be their ( RoKo) last time in Australia. That'll be their last tournament ( 2027 World Cup). They are giants and will want to go out on their terms. And they'll not want to hang around. If they are not up to it in terms of hunger and fitness, they'll go just like they left Test cricket and T20Is,” Shastri said on the LisTNR Sport podcast.

Shastri on Gill becoming ODI captain

On the other hand, Shastri also shared his take on Shubman Gill replacing Rohit and becoming India's new ODI captain ahead of the important three-match series that is set to commence from October 19. There was a lot of debate around BCCI's decision, but Shastri feels that the selection committee have made the right decision and have taken it while thinking about the future of Indian cricket.

"They are looking at the future and this is what Australia did really well in the past. They wouldn't wait till a player starts failing. They'll be proactive like you saw with Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist, similarly Dean Jones to Steve Waugh. So India are looking ahead two years from now. Gill respects both Rohit and Virat, having played under both of them,” Shastri stated.

India's schedule against Australia

Meanwhile, the first ODI of the series between Australia and India will be held at the Optus stadium in Perth. The action will then move to the Adelaide Oval where the second match wi ll take place on October 23 and the series finale will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. Following this, a five-match T20I series will be contested between the two teams and it will begin from October 29.