India’s seasoned batting icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have departed for the much-anticipated Australia tour, joining the rest of the squad on Wednesday. The Indian contingent will compete in eight white-ball matches, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. While Kohli flew in from London after spending time with his family, Rohit arrived from Mumbai to join the team in Delhi.
Most members of the touring squad, including newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, were already in Delhi following the recently concluded second Test against West Indies.
Both Rohit and Kohli will feature exclusively in the ODI leg of the tour, having retired from T20Is earlier this year. This series also marks their first competitive outing since IPL 2025, with their last international appearance being the Champions Trophy final in March 2025.
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Amid growing discussions about their future in ODIs, the spotlight remains firmly on the experienced duo. By the time the 2027 ODI World Cup arrives, Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 38, sparking debates about their long-term roles in India’s 50-over setup.
#WATCH | Members of the Indian Cricket Team leave from Delhi airport.
India will be touring Australia for a three-match ODI series, starting on October 19, 2025. pic.twitter.com/Vw9m5obzLT
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2025
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sitting together on the team bus after a long time, but Rohit must surely be missing his usual seating partner, Ravindra Jadeja.🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/NmWnMqvZZY
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 15, 2025
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, however, chose to focus on the present rather than speculate about their World Cup prospects.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “The 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away. It’s important to stay in the present. Both Rohit and Virat are quality players. Their experience will be invaluable in Australia. Hopefully, they have a successful tour, and more importantly, the team performs well as a unit.”
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India’s ODI series against Australia kicks off this Sunday, and all eyes will be on the Rohit-Kohli partnership, which continues to define Indian cricket’s legacy in the modern era.
