Former India head coach Anil Kumble has said that it will not be easy for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to maintain their fitness levels required for the ODI format, especially after leaving Tests and T20Is as well. The veteran spinner, however, said that both Virat and Rohit must be celebrated for the rest of their careers. However, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from Test cricket after stepping away from T20Is following India’s T20 World Cup victory in June 2024 as well.
“It’s not easy to just do what they need to in terms of preparing for an ODI, which is six months down the line. It’s going to be a challenge, no matter who you are and how well you have had your career over the years,” Kumble said. “But they are champion players, so they know how to sort of manoeuvre that, and it’s important to celebrate champion players as long as they play. You go into thread bare of each performance as to how they should have played or how they could have played.”
ALSO READ: “He is the most successful Indian Test captain” – Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli
“What is important is to celebrate whatever is out there with the two players. Ideally, they would like to play until the 2027 World Cup, because that’s something that did not happen. We saw that 2023 (World Cup) final with Australia holding the trophy,” he said again.
However, India are slated to play three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia in October, which is going to be a high-profile white-ball series that could feature both Rohit and Kohli as well. Kumble also believes they will be determined to leave a mark as well.
“The legends who are no longer playing in the other format will certainly want to make a mark, Virat and Rohit, and I’m sure a lot of people would want to watch that in Australia. I feel someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal Sai Sudharsan, I think, will make it to that team although he’s not a part of it. (But) I think he will, based on the performances is going to have in England and he’ll be someone to watch out for,” Anil Kumble concluded.
