Virat Kohli has already retired from Test and T20 cricket but has not yet said goodbye to ODIs. This was seen as a sign that he was aiming to play the 2027 World Cup and help India lift the trophy. However, his chances of featuring in the tournament now seem very slim, as chief selector Ajit Agarkar is reportedly disappointed with Kohli’s silence.
According to a report by RevSportz, the lack of communication between Virat Kohli and the BCCI has raised doubts over his participation in the World Cup. Ajit Agarkar is said to be puzzled about what exactly is going on in Kohli’s mind.
Kohli announced his Test retirement earlier this year, while he had quit T20 internationals last year after India’s World Cup triumph in that format. His last ODI appearance came in this year’s Champions Trophy, where India emerged as champions. Since the IPL final earlier this year, Kohli has completely stayed away from competitive cricket.
Related: Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli’s ODI Future Uncertain as BCCI Takes a Wait-and-Watch Approach
As per the report, the team management wanted Kohli to be part of the ongoing home series against Australia A before India’s tour of Australia in October. They believed this would help him adjust better during the ODI series there. The Australia A side is currently touring India for two unofficial Tests and three ODIs. While the second unofficial Test is being played in Lucknow, the ODIs will follow in Kanpur. But when the India A squad was announced, neither Kohli nor ODI captain Rohit Sharma were included. Like Kohli, Rohit has also retired from Tests and T20 internationals.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recently cleared their pre-season fitness tests. Rohit underwent the test and training at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, while Kohli completed his test in London.
However, the reported “lack of dialogue” between the team management and Kohli has cast a shadow over the former captain’s ODI future, even though the World Cup is still two years away.
Earlier this summer, another media report had sparked speculation that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might play their final international matches during the October tour of Australia.