Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are India’s most celebrated white-ball batsmen, but both have stepped away from international T20 cricket. After India’s (hypothetical) T20 World Cup victory in 2024, Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is, noting that a “new set of players…are more than ready” to take over. Rohit likewise bid farewell to T20Is around the same time. Neither has played a T20 International since; as of late 2025 both men are participating only in India’s bilateral ODIs and the IPL. In fact, “both Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from T20Is in 2024”, focusing instead on ODIs and franchise cricket. BCCI sources and selectors stress that, having “retired from two formats,” even superstars must stay match-fit via domestic play if they want to remain in contention. In short, Rohit and Virat are senior fixtures in ODIs and Tests (until recently), but their T20 futures have been explicitly on hold.
IPL Form and Recent Performance
Despite their T20 retirement, both players have remained in sharp batting form in the IPL (India’s premier T20 league) and ODIs. Kohli’s 2024 and early-2025 IPL seasons were dominant: he led the run charts in IPL 2024 (he was the Orange Cap leader with 379 runs in 8 games) and continued piling up runs in 2025. As of May 2025, the 36-year-old Kohli had amassed 443 runs in 10 IPL matches (in contention for the Orange Cap). This included three scores over 50 (one of them a century) by late April 2024, underscoring that his batting remains explosive by modern T20 standards. Rohit Sharma’s IPL form has been solid, if not as eye-catching. In IPL 2024 he scored one century (105*) and finished with roughly 300+ runs in limited opportunities. In 2025, Rohit totaled 418 runs for Mumbai Indians, including a key century in late 2025 ODIs (an unbeaten 121) which also pushed him to No.1 in the ICC ODI rankings. Veteran analyst Mohammad Kaif pointed out that Rohit’s aggregate (418 runs) in IPL 2025 trailed Kohli’s, noting that Rohit hasn’t topped 600 in a season. Overall, both batsmen have shown they can dominate T20 bowling attacks: Kohli with his trademark risk-averse consistency and mounting strike rates (e.g. SR ~150 in IPL 2024), and Rohit with his late-innings fireworks. Their fitness levels also appear high: Kohli’s running on-field and form at age 36 have drawn praise, and Rohit (38 by early 2026) has been training intensively and even plans to play the domestic T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to stay sharp.
Selectors’ Statements and Team Planning
Cricket India’s decision-makers have given mixed signals. The national selectors and BCCI have not definitively ruled them out for future big tournaments, but neither have they made firm commitments. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has acknowledged that no “final decision” has been taken on Rohit and Kohli’s inclusion for upcoming ICC events. He reiterated that the pair “are incredible players” who are currently in the squad (for ODIs) but will not be “put to the test in every match”. In other words, they remain in the mix, but with performance and team needs guiding selection. Ajit Agarkar warned that “two years from now, it is difficult to say what the situation will be,” noting that younger players may emerge to take spots.
Other hints come from recent team selections. In late 2025 the BCCI named an India A squad for tours (including T20 fixtures) that conspicuously omitted both Kohli and Rohit. Instead, vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and young Tilak Varma were chosen to lead, alongside India’s T20 regulars (Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, etc.). The selectors explicitly left Virat and Rohit out of this preparatory series, signaling a focus on building bench strength. At the same time, the BCCI has publicly urged the two veterans to play domestic cricket to retain match fitness. In November 2025, Rohit confirmed he will play the Vijay Hazare (List-A) Trophy for Mumbai, after a BCCI directive that senior players must show form domestically to be considered. Whether Kohli will follow is unclear – reports noted the 37-year-old (residing in London) had not yet finalized plans with the Delhi association. National selectors emphasize that domestic performance will be monitored, even if no “on trial” status is implied. In effect, the message is: Rohit and Virat remain welcome in the Indian setup, but only if they continue delivering form and fitness consistently.
Age, Fitness and Workload
Age is an important factor. In early 2026 Rohit will be 39 and Kohli 37. At such ages, managing workload is key. Both have already reduced their schedules by eschewing Tests and T20s. They now only play ODIs (sporadic bilateral series) plus full IPL seasons. This lighter load has kept them fresh: Kohli’s high-runs IPL campaigns suggest he is physically capable even after long rests. Rohit, known for rigorous fitness training, continues to work on his conditioning year-round. Veteran Irfan Pathan commented in late 2025 that staying “game-fit” will be their biggest challenge if they aim for ICC events. Pathan advised that regular match practice (for instance in domestic T20 or List-A) is essential, since long gaps without T20Is could dull their instincts Selection panels have picked up on this: while not tested every game, both will have to prove readiness through domestic form and IPL starts.
Team Strategy and Succession
India’s T20 strategy is clearly in transition. The team is grooming new leaders and lineups for the future. In Kohli/Rohit’s stead, young openers like Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and experienced all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have taken more prominent roles. Shubman Gill has already assumed ODI captaincy, and his close associate Yashasvi Jaiswal is a candidate to open in T20s. The current T20 captaincy is with Hardik Pandya, making him a central figure going into 2026. Selectors have so far retained talents like Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, and are continuing with rising stars (Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, etc.) in their plans. In this context, legacy players must fit specific roles rather than be automatic picks. Kohli’s role as an anchor with high averages but sometimes lower strike rate has drawn debate (even as he proved indispensable in accumulating runs in IPL). Rohit’s knack for quick power-hitting late innings is a unique asset, but his recent IPL numbers (while solid) suggest he may not dominate entire tournaments as in younger days. Team management under coach Gautam Gambhir emphasizes “throwing players in the deep” and accountability, indicating they will test even veterans under pressure and value form over reputation.
Expert Opinions and Media Commentary
Cricket experts are divided. Many respect Rohit and Kohli as winners who should not be cast aside lightly. Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar recently argued that their pedigree alone would make them “certainties” for any World Cup squad if fit and willing. He praised their recent return performances (hundreds in ODIs, etc.) as evidence they still have “bankable quality”. Former India captain Irfan Pathan, however, urged them to prove commitment via domestic cricket, warning of “game time” issues if they skip too many matches. Mohammad Kaif noted that Rohit’s leaner run tally (418 in IPL 2025) pales next to Kohli’s standards, suggesting Rohit must push to 600+ runs in IPL to match expectations. India’s fans and media continue to debate: some feel the team would be incomplete without their experience, while others push for generational change in a format that increasingly favors aggressive young
guns.
Read Also : Virat kohli announces retirement
Outlook for T20 World Cup 2026
In summary, will Rohit and Kohli play the 2026 T20 World Cup? Officially, the door remains ajar but not committed. Both players have expressed that they stepped aside to let others rise, yet neither has ruled out a comeback for a marquee event. Selectors have signaled that every spot will be earned – performances and fitness now outweigh legacy. Kohli and Rohit’s recent domestic and IPL success means they cannot be dismissed on form alone. If they maintain their high standards in IPL 2025 and in domestic cricket (and if the team’s leadership deems them necessary), they could well be in the conversation. However, current trends favor a younger core: newer openers, the continuing success of hard-hitting specialists, and a rebuilding team ethos under Gambhir. Their age and self-imposed breaks from T20 put Rohit and Virat at a potential disadvantage. In the end, selection will balance their star value against the commitment to long-term team evolution. As of late 2025, experts conclude that nothing is guaranteed – it will depend on their form and the selectors’ strategy as 2026 approaches.
