“Won’t be easy”: Anil Kumble questions Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s fitness for ODIs

It won’t be easy for them, it’s not a fan’s opinion, it’s Anil Kumble, one of India’s greatest cricketing stars, questioning whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can sustain their fitness for the ODI format moving forward from T20s and Test Retirement. Reacting to their ODI career future, Anil has raised concerns about the duo’s form needed for the fifty-over format now that they have retired from T20 and Test Cricket.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from Test Cricket after winning the T20 World Cup, and now both have announced their retirement from Test Cricket. Both will now only be available for the One-Day Internationals. There is growing uncertainty around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in ODIs, especially with the 2027 World Cup still a few years away. Although both played key roles in India’s Champions Trophy win earlier this year—Kohli with a crucial knock in the semi-final and Rohit earning Player of the Match in the final—their long-term plans for the format remain unclear.

Also Read | I’m not saying I’m done, I Have four-five months to decide: MS Dhoni on IPL 2026 Future

Anil Kumble questions Kohli and Rohit’s fitness

With only a few ODI matches scheduled this year for Team India in 2025, the former Indian coach and cricketer believes that it won’t be easy for RO-KO to maintain the kind of fitness needed for the 50-over format ODIs. Speaking of the schedule, India is scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia in October, which could feature both the Indian Stalwarts.

“It’s not easy to just do what they need to in terms of preparing for an ODI, which is six months down the line. It’s going to be a challenge, no matter who you are and how well you have had your career over the years,” Kumble said.

“But they are champion players, so they know how to sort of manoeuvre that, and it’s important to celebrate champion players as long as they play. You go into thread bare of each performance as to how they should have played or how they could have played.”

“What is important is to celebrate whatever is out there with the two players. Ideally, they would like to play until the 2027 World Cup, because that’s something that did not happen. We saw that 2023 (World Cup) final with Australia holding the trophy,” he said.

India’s ODI schedule in 2025

India is scheduled to play three series this year, one against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place in August month then the Indian team will tour Australia in October, and they will host South Africa for three ODIs in November-December of this year. With only the ODI format remaining, RO-KO would most likely be part of these tours and will be seen in the Men In Blue squad.

pic.twitter.com/8tEVKaqLMU

— Birdman (@kingbirdman22) May 27, 2025