**Rajeev Shukla Rubbishes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Retirement Rumors**
*By Parth Dhall | Oct 15, 2025, 11:44 AM*
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has firmly dismissed rumors suggesting that veteran Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to retire after the upcoming Australia series. Speaking to ANI, Shukla lauded India’s recent series win against the West Indies and stressed the pivotal roles both players continue to play in the ODI squad.
### Key Player Importance: “Great Batsmen, Need Them in ODI Squad”
Shukla emphasized the significance of having both Kohli and Rohit in the team, referring to them as “great batsmen” whose presence will be crucial to India’s success against Australia. He categorically denied claims that the Australia series would be the duo’s last, stating such rumors are baseless and that retirement decisions rest entirely with the players themselves.
### Comeback After Break from Tests and T20Is
Both Kohli and Rohit have already retired from Test and T20 International cricket. They are making their return for the Australia ODI series following a considerable hiatus, having last featured in the ICC Champions Trophy final this year — a match India won.
While both players are eyeing spots for the 2027 ICC World Cup, the road ahead remains challenging. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir recently remarked, “The World Cup is still two and a half years away. It’s important to stay in the present.”
### Leadership Changes: Shubman Gill to Lead India in Australia
This October, Shubman Gill was appointed as India’s ODI captain for the Australia tour, replacing Rohit Sharma. Shreyas Iyer will serve as vice-captain under Gill’s leadership.
### India’s ODI Squad for Australia Tour:
– Shubman Gill (Captain)
– Rohit Sharma
– Virat Kohli
– Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)
– Axar Patel
– KL Rahul (Wicket-Keeper)
– Nitish Kumar Reddy
– Washington Sundar
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Harshit Rana
– Mohammed Siraj
– Arshdeep Singh
– Prasidh Krishna
– Dhruv Jurel (Wicket-Keeper)
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
### Speculation and Future Concerns
Speculation about Kohli’s and Rohit’s potential retirement ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup has stirred concerns, especially given the limited number of ODIs scheduled before the tournament. Additionally, with both players approaching 40 years of age by the time of the World Cup, their participation and roles in the team remain topics of discussion among fans and experts alike.
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Rajeev Shukla’s recent statements provide clarity on the future of these iconic players, reinforcing their continued importance to Indian cricket in the ODI format. Fans can look forward to their performances in the upcoming Australia series without the cloud of retirement rumors.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/rajeev-shukla-denies-rumors-of-kohli-rohit-s-retirement/story
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