A Major Shift in Indian Cricket
The cricketing community was taken aback when two of its most prominent figures, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, declared their retirement from Test cricket within just five days. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian Test team, was the first to make the announcement on May 7 via an Instagram story, where he shared a heartfelt message alongside a photo of his Test cap.
Shortly after, reports surfaced that Virat Kohli had also communicated his decision to the BCCI regarding his retirement from the Test format. Despite attempts by the board to persuade him to reconsider, Kohli confirmed his retirement on May 12.
Both players had previously retired from T20 internationals after clinching the T20 World Cup in Barbados in June 2024. Their recent announcements have left fans in disbelief.
Moving forward, both Kohli and Sharma will only participate in One Day Internationals (ODIs), which are less frequent unless a World Cup is approaching. They will continue to play in the IPL, representing RCB and MI respectively. The IPL 2025 is set to kick off on May 17, and both players will be actively involved. However, after the tournament concludes on June 3, there will be limited ODI matches for the Indian team, leaving fans longing for their favorite players.
Fans can look forward to seeing them in action again on August 17, 2025, when India is scheduled to face Bangladesh in a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. According to the Future Tour Programs (FTP), India is set to play nine more ODIs in 2025 and at least 15 in 2026. The next ODI World Cup is slated for 2027 in South Africa, and it remains uncertain whether both Kohli and Sharma will still be part of the international cricket scene by then.
Bangladesh vs India, August 2025 – 3 ODIs (August 17-23)*
Australia vs India, October 2025 – 3 ODIs (October 19-25)
India vs South Africa, Nov-Dec 2025 – 3 ODIs (November 30-December 6)
India vs New Zealand, January 2026 – 3 ODIs
India vs Afghanistan, June 2026 – 3 ODIs
India vs West Indies, September 2026 – 3 ODIs
New Zealand vs India, Oct-Nov 2026 – 3 ODIs
India vs Sri Lanka, December 2026 – 3 ODIs
* – Not confirmed
