Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the biggest names in cricket, are said to be coming back to competitive cricket with the India A team. The two players said they were retiring from Test cricket in May 2025, although they are likely to be on the team for the three unofficial One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia A. On September 30, October 3, and October 5, the games will be held at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
There hasn’t been an official word from the BCCI yet, but some sources say that this move is meant to enable the older players get back in form for the three-match ODI series against Australia that starts on October 19. Since the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, neither Kohli nor Rohit has played in a competitive match. India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in March, which was their last game for the national team.
Shreyas Iyer is the captain of the India A team that will play two multi-day matches against Australia A. The team for the three one-day matches has not yet been announced, therefore the two senior batting legends could yet be included.
A lot of people have been talking about the possibility of Kohli and Sharma being picked for the India A matches. Some people think it’s a necessary step for them to get back in shape, while others think it’s strange for players of their level to compete in unofficial matches. The BCCI’s final decision will probably give us an idea of what the team plans to do in the future with ODIs, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.