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India's World Cup-winner and former star batter Suresh Raina has weighed in on the rumors surrounding the potential ODI retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Raina expressed his strong belief that these two batting icons should not be forced to retire from the 50-over format. He argues that India currently lacks dependable players who could step into their shoes and maintain the same level of performance.
While it is true that both Kohli and Sharma are in the twilight of their careers and have already retired from T20I and Test cricket, Raina questions how long they can realistically continue playing ODIs. With the number of 50-over matches on the international calendar significantly reduced, their opportunities to play outside of the Indian Premier League (IPL) would be limited. This situation adds an interesting layer to the discussion about their future in the format.
Rohit and Virat , who were last seen in action during India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory, were slated to return to the international stage for a tour of Bangladesh that was ultimately canceled by the BCCI. The two veteran cricketers are now expected to make their return during India's upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia and then South Africa. Ahead of this highly anticipated tour, a report from Dainik Jagran claimed that this series would mark the final time the duo would play an ODI, suggesting they would retire after the tour.
Rohit and Virat’s experience is very important: Suresh Raina
The report went on to state that the pair were being mandated by the BCCI to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove their credentials, implying this was a precursor to their retirement. However, a conflicting report from PTI countered this, stating that the BCCI had not issued any such directive. Instead, the PTI report suggested the board would prefer for Rohit and Virat to play in India A matches. Weighing in on the speculation, former India batter Suresh Raina has expressed strong disapproval of the idea of either player retiring from ODI cricket at this point in time. Raina emphasised that the Indian dressing room still needs both the batting juggernauts, and their continued presence would be invaluable in helping younger players develop.
"India don’t have dependable players at No. 1 and No. 3 (in ODIs) at the moment, especially when chasing. Rohit and Virat’s experience is very important… It’s crucial for the seniors to stay involved with the juniors. Shubman (Gill) has done really well, but he needs players like Virat and Rohit. They have won the Champions Trophy, they have won the World Cups. Virat won the last IPL also. For the astute leadership they have shown during their respective careers, they need to be part of the dressing room," Raina told Telecom Asia Sport.
Despite his solid performance in white-ball cricket, Mohammed Siraj found himself dropped from India's limited-overs squads, a decision that could be seen as unfortunate. However, he made a powerful statement with his recent heroics in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Siraj finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series, claiming an impressive 23 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 32.43. This standout performance has sent a clear message to the selection committee, demonstrating his readiness to compete in all formats of the game.
Adding to the growing support for Siraj's all-format inclusion, former Indian batter Suresh Raina has also heaped praise on the fast bowler. Raina publicly backed Siraj's place in India's squad across Test, ODI, and T20I formats, further highlighting the bowler's strong case for a permanent spot in the national team.
"Siraj should be part of the Indian set-up in all three formats the way he has performed for the country both with white ball and red ball. He bowled 187 overs in the series and went through without a niggle," he concluded.
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