Is the Australia tour the farewell series for Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma? BCCI VP answers

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla has opened up on the Indian talismanic batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma coming back into the international arena for the first time since the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025.

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Speaking exclusively on ANI, Shukla stated that the Indian cricket would be highly beneficial to have Kohli and Rohit back in the international set-up after a long gap. Furthermore, he also backed India to defeat Australia Down Under in the limited-overs series. 

When asked if the upcoming Australian tour is the farewell series for the veteran duo, Shukla stated that it’s absolutely wrong to think in that manner. He also asserted that it’s up to players to think about their respective retirement decisions. 

"This is very beneficial for us (Rohit and Virat being in the ODI squad). Because both of them are great batsmen, and in the presence of both of them, I think we will be successful in defeating Australia. And as far as this being their last series is concerned, it is nothing like that. We should never go into these things. It is up to the players when they would retire. To say this would be their last series is absolutely wrong," Shukla said as quoted by India Today.

Notably, Kohli and Rohit announced their Test retirement ahead of the England tour, with the selectors appointing Shubman Gill as the new Test captain for the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy in England.

Later, Gill was elevated as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team with Suryakumar Yadav continuing as the captain of the side. On the other hand, Gill will replace Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain in the forthcoming three-match series against Australia Down Under, starting on October 19.

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