Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are now fully focused on ODI cricket as they prepare for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. Both players have already stepped away from T20Is and Test cricket, making ODIs their only format for India.
The two legends had announced their T20I retirement after India’s title win in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. They stopped playing Test cricket after the 2024 World Test Championship cycle had begun. Their present objective involves preparing themselves for an upcoming significant ICC competition.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced India’s home season for 2026-27. The upcoming schedule will include multiple ODI matches, which will provide the team sufficient time to prepare for their World Cup competition.
India will begin their home ODI season with a series against the West Indies in September 2026. The team will then compete in another ODI series against Sri Lanka during December. In India, Zimbabwe will participate in a three-match ODI series against India during January 2027.
The upcoming matches hold great significance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli because they need to keep playing well.
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| No | Date | Time | Match | Venue |
| 1 | 27-Sep-2026 | 2:00 PM | 1st ODI | Trivandrum |
| 2 | 30-Sep-2026 | 2:00 PM | 2nd ODI | Guwahati |
| 3 | 03-Oct-2026 | 2:00 PM | 3rd ODI | New Chandigarh |
| No | Date | Time | Match | Venue |
| 1 | 13-Dec-2026 | 2:00 PM | 1st ODI | Delhi |
| 2 | 16-Dec-2026 | 2:00 PM | 2nd ODI | Bengaluru |
| 3 | 19-Dec-2026 | 2:00 PM | 3rd ODI | Ahmedabad |
| No | Date | Time | Match | Venue |
| 1 | 03-Jan-2027 | 2:00 PM | 1st ODI | Kolkata |
| 2 | 06-Jan-2027 | 2:00 PM | 2nd ODI | Hyderabad |
| 3 | 09-Jan-2027 | 2:00 PM | 3rd ODI | Mumbai |
This schedule is likely to be the last home ODI run for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The final series against Zimbabwe could be their last matches in India before the World Cup.
Both players bring a lot of experience and will play a key role in guiding the younger players in the team. Their presence will also help India stay strong in big matches.
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India will begin their home season with a tour to England during June 2026. The team will play three ODI matches there. The games will provide essential testing opportunities for the team to assess their different playing capabilities.
Rohit and Kohli have already returned to ODI cricket earlier and played against teams like South Africa and New Zealand. The players will achieve constant match readiness through their regular gameplay activities.
The ICC ODI World Cup 2027 will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The weather conditions present in these nations create a complete contrast to the climate found throughout India.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli possess extensive knowledge about playing in these particular regions. This knowledge can assist India in succeeding during the tournament.
The 2027 World Cup could also be the last international event for both players. They will aim to end their careers on a high note and possibly bring another ICC trophy for India.
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