Rohit Sharma’s ODI future under cloud as Kohli continues to set benchmark

Rohit Sharma’s place in India’s ODI team for the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup is reportedly under scrutiny, with concerns growing within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over his fitness and ability to handle the demands of 50-over cricket.

According to the Times of India, Rohit, who was recently named in the squad for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting June 14, is still subject to fitness clearance. He had suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the IPL 2026 season and even missed several matches for Mumbai Indians.

Although Rohit is believed to have made a recovery and he even scored a half-century upon his return, he was mostly used as an Impact Player. This has added to concerns over his workload management and fitness. The report suggests that Indian selectors and team management are worried about whether Rohit’s body can cope with the ODI cricket demands until the World Cup in 2027.

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“Rohit did not report to the Centre of Excellence for those three weeks. He has become lean, but there are concerns about his body being able to take the load of high-performance sport. He has to field for 50 overs. ODI cricket doesn’t have the option of an Impact Player like the IPL,” TOI quoted a source as saying.

Rohit and Kohli to be judged separately?

The report also claimed that the BCCI is looking to make a distinction between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in terms of fitness standards. Kohli is reportedly proved elite fitness levels through consistent performances and training, which cannot be said about Rohit.

“At this moment, Kohli’s fitness and form are better than most cricketers in India. But one has to understand that Kohli and Rohit can’t be clubbed together anymore. A firm decision needs to be taken on Rohit after consulting the BCCI medical team,” the source added.

If fitness concerns around Rohit persist, the BCCI may begin grooming a long-term backup opener ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Ishan Kishan has already been included in the squad for the Afghanistan series, while Yashasvi Jaiswal remains in contention for the position as well.