Explained: Will Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma play Asia Cup 2025?

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will miss the 2025 Asia Cup due to their retirement from T20I cricket after India’s World Cup win in 2024. The tournament, set in UAE from September 9–28, will be played in T20 format.

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Will Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma play Asia Cup 2025

Team India put up an impressive show in the recently concluded five-match Test series in England, drawing the series 2-2. Before the series, two veteran batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, had retired from the longest format. Still, under new Test captain Shubman Gill, a relatively young Indian side showed grit and determination.

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India’s next challenge is the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. However, fans will not see Kohli and Rohit in action, as the tournament will be played in the T20 format. Both players took retirement from T20 internationals after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa.

Currently, both stalwarts are available only for ODIs. Keeping that in mind, fans might see them back in action during the three-match ODI series in Australia from October 19 to 25.

Rohit was spotted at the Oval during the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where India sealed a thrilling win to level the series. Kohli was not present during the series but was seen attending the Wimbledon Championships with his wife and Bollywood actress, Anushka Sharma. 

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On August 8, he shared an Instagram story suggesting he had started practice for the ODI series, which quickly went viral among fans.

For both players, the main focus is now the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, a recent PTI report stated that neither of them is guaranteed to be a part fo the plans for that tournament. A close source told PTI that a decision will be taken soon.

"Yes, it will be discussed soon. We still have more than two years for the next World Cup (November 2027). Both Kohli and Rohit will be pushing 40 by then, so there has to be a clear plan ahead for the big event as our last win was in 2011. We also need to try out a few youngsters in time," the source said.

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The last time fans saw these two in action was during IPL 2025, when they played for their respective franchises. Rohit represented Mumbai Indians (MI), while Kohli turned out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Kohli and RCB also went on to win their maiden IPL title.

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