Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have helped in reviving interest in ODIs. This comes after the duo featured in the Men in Blue's recent one-day assignments against Australia and South Africa. With the two already having announced their retirements from both Tests and T20Is, their rare appearance in international cricket generated a lot of buzz.
Pathan wants India to play more ODIs
Pathan believes that BCCI should arrange a five-match ODI series instead of three and called for the return of tri-series or quadrangular tournaments so that Rohit and Virat can get more game-time heading into the 2027 ODI World Cup.
"That's why I am repeatedly saying one thing. Why can't we have five ODIs instead of three? Why can't we have a triangular or quadrangular series? Why can't we arrange that, because these two greats play only one format? It won't be wrong to say that if a lot of interest has returned to ODI cricket, these two have brought it," Pathan said on Star Sports.
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Pathan further went on to hail Rohit and Virat for delivering in the recent games that they played for India and urged them to keep playing matches on either the international or domestic circuit even though the World Cup is still far away.
"The biggest thing is that they are also performing. The World Cup is far away. You will definitely want to think about it, but I am also thinking that the more we get to see them, that these two players should keep playing, keep representing India, and when they are not playing for India, they should keep playing domestic cricket because the more they play, the better it is," Pathan added.
Rohit and Virat in superb form
Both Rohit and Virat made their much-awaited returns to international cricket in the three-match ODI series against Australia in October. While the former scored a hundred and fifty each in the assignment, the latter also registered a much-needed half-century after being dismissed for ducks in the first two games.
Virat turned the tables around in the series against South Africa and scored hundreds in the first two games. He followed that up with an unbeaten knock of 65 in the third match as India won the series by 2-1. On the other hand, Rohit didn't lag far behind either and hit two half-centuries in three games. The two are in tremendous form when it comes to the format and it remains to be seen if they will be able to maintain it in India's upcoming three-match series against New Zealand that will begin from January 11.