India great Sourav Ganguly dismisses Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma retirement talk

The veterans have been dialling down their cricket commitments. The experienced duo announced their retirement from Tests and T20Is earlier this year. In addition, the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa is over two years away. Kohli will be 39 and Sharma into his 40s should they make the trip.

As such, there is growing concern that the prolific batters are not long for the talented ODI group looking to build for the 2027 global showpiece.

However, Ganguly played down any such talk.

"I'm not aware of this, can't comment on this," he said during the AWL Agri Business Ltd Event.

"It's difficult to say. Whoever does well will play. If they do well, they should continue. Kohli's one-day record is phenomenal, even Rohit Sharma's. Both of them are phenomenal in white-ball cricket."

The indomitable Kohli is third in the list of all-time top ODI run-scorers, while Rohit holds the record for the highest individual score (264) in the format.

Meanwhile, a BCCI source claimed the duo would let the board know before making such a decision.

"Obviously, if they have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour," said the source, as per India Today.

"But from an Indian team's perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available."

India's next ODI assignment is an away series against Australia from 19-25 October.

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