In a dramatic change for Indian cricket, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket within a few days. The announcement came in advance of India’s selection meeting for the late June tour of England. With their exits, the two legendary batters are now concentrating solely on One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Rohit formally brought an end to his Test career on May 7, laying rumors of his position in the longest format, including his captaincy, to rest. In the aftermath, Kohli posted an emotional post on Instagram, marking the end of an era.
White-Ball Focus Until 2027
In the future, Kohli and Rohit will find themselves playing ODIs, as India heads into a white-ball-dominant era. There’s the T20 World Cup in January-February 2026 and the 50-over World Cup in 2027 on the international calendar, both of which will provide them with ample opportunities to score runs on the international circuit. Their next possible international outing is in August, when India will tour Bangladesh although the series has yet to be finalized. If the tour does not go ahead, fans might have to wait until October to see them play again.
Here’s When Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma Will Be Playing
| Series | Dates | Number of ODIs |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh vs India | August 17–23, 2025 | 3 |
| Australia vs India | October 19–25, 2025 | 3 |
| India vs South Africa | November 30–December 6, 2025 | 3 |
| India vs New Zealand | January 2026 (Dates TBA) | 3 |
| India vs Afghanistan | June 2026 (Dates TBA) | 3 |
| India vs West Indies | September 2026 (Dates TBA) | 3 |
| New Zealand vs India | October–November 2026 (TBA) | 3 |
| India vs Sri Lanka | December 2026 (Dates TBA) | 3 |
Also Read: IPL 2025: Resume Date, New Match Schedule, Venues – All You Need To Know
Kohli recently was seen at a public event where he outlined his plans for the next World Cup in 2027. Although the retirement of Rohit and Kohli from Tests signifies the end of a golden era, their availability for ODIs means fans will continue to see their greatness in blue.
