‘Silly to put Rohit-Kohli on trial in every game’:Ajit Agarkar breaks silence on two India stalwarts’ ODI retirement ahead of 2027 World Cup

Team India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has come out in support of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, saying it would be wrong to judge their performance after every single match. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit on Friday, Agarkar emphasised that both players will be evaluated based on their overall series performance rather than being scrutinised game by game. Both Rohit and Kohli are returning to international cricket after a seven-month break, having last played in the Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025. Their much-awaited comeback will take place in the first ODI against Australia on October 19, and Agarkar made it clear that the two stalwarts are not on trial. However, Agarkar has also shared his insights on India pacer Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from Team India’s recent England tour for the five-match Test series. Shami had recently claimed that he was fit but still ignored by the selectors, but Agarkar’s clarification has now put the record straight. Agarkar defends India senior duo ahead of AUS tour Agarkar strongly dismissed the idea of evaluating Rohit and Kohli’s place in the team after each match. He said, “Both their performances will be evaluated based on the series, not on every match.” Also read: Watch- Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli continue to grind in nets: Australia suffer Cameron Green blow, Marnus Labuschagne added to ODI squad Explaining his point further, the chief selector added, If they (Rohit-Kohli) don’t score runs in Australia, it doesn’t mean they will be dropped from the team, and if they score three centuries, it doesn’t mean they should be considered selected for the 2027 World Cup from now. It would be foolish to test them in every match. When they start playing, they will be evaluated, but they are not on trial Agarkar’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about India’s transition planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with some speculating that the selectors might test the senior duo’s consistency in every upcoming series. Ajit shares his insights on Test retirements of Rohit-Virat Agarkar also clarified that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirements were personal choices. He said, “Both informed us about their retirement themselves. When a player makes such a decision on their own, we should respect it.” Rohit Sharma had announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, followed by Virat Kohli’s decision five days later on May 12. Also read: Rohit-Kohli’s first player-only ODI assignment since the MS Dhoni era: Legendary duo smashed fifties on their last appearance under a different captain in 2016 BCCI selector speaks out on Shami’s selection and fitness On the subject of Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the England tour, Agarkar revealed that the pacer was left out due to fitness concerns. He stated, “He was not selected for the England tour because he was not fully fit. If Shami was fit, why wouldn’t we select him? In the last 6-8 months, his fitness is not at the level that is required.”