(Image source from: PTI)
Virat Kohli's mysterious post on social media was a reply to the discussions about his future in One Day Internationals ahead of the upcoming matches against Australia, as per sources. Virat has previously said he is stepping away from Test matches and T20 Internationals, with his last appearance for India being in the Champions Trophy final in 2025. Many fans and analysts were curious if Virat would be prepared for the 2027 ODI World Cup, especially since he only plays in one format now. Some current and former Australian players also questioned if this would be Virat's last visit to Australia. However, his post seemed to clarify all the uncertainty and noise concerning the star player's future in the ODI format. "The only true failure is when you choose to quit," Virat shared on X, which used to be called Twitter.
During the announcement of the team, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar dismissed any speculations about Virat and Rohit retiring after the series against Australia. He assured that both Virat and Rohit Sharma were chosen with the 2027 World Cup in consideration.
"As far as I know, I don't believe that is the case. They both passed their fitness tests or the standards set for fitness. According to what I know and what the selectors understand, they have met the necessary requirements. I haven't heard anything else concerning that," Agarkar stated while talking to reporters. "Currently, they (Virat and Rohit) are the players we have picked with the 2027 World Cup goal in mind. I don't think this is something we need to elaborate on today. Naturally, with the change in captaincy, that's usually the thought," he continued. Earlier this week, after India beat the West Indies 2-0 in the series, head coach Gautam Gambhir shared his thoughts on Rohit and Virat's future. Gambhir stressed the importance of focusing on the present and expressed optimism that the experienced players would perform well in the tough conditions of Australia.
"The 50-over World Cup is still around two and a half years away. I think it’s crucial to concentrate on now. That’s something vital. Clearly, they are skilled players; they are returning. Their experience will be very useful in Australia. Hopefully, both of them will have a successful journey," Gambhir mentioned to reporters in the press conference after the match.
