Indian cricket fans are waiting to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma reunite in the ODI setup as the two veterans continue to focus on the 50-over format after retiring from Tests and T20Is. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia approaching, both players remain central to India’s plans. Their last ODI outing came against England, who won the three-match series 2-1, with Shubman Gill leading the Indian national cricket team in the ODI leg. Here is everything you need to know about when Kohli and Rohit will play next.
When Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Return to India’s ODI Team?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to make their return to India’s ODI team for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, with the veteran duo expected to be back in action on September 27, 2026. After retiring from Tests and T20Is, both batters are now focused solely on the 50-over format, with their experience expected to be crucial as India builds towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The two senior stars have been rested for India’s upcoming white-ball assignments against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka following the team’s multi-format tour of England. Their next appearance for India is expected to come in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The second ODI will be played on September 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, before the series concludes on October 3 at the Maharaja Yadavindra International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. All three matches are expected to be important opportunities for Kohli and Rohit to regain their rhythm ahead of a busy ODI calendar.
India’s schedule will remain packed after the West Indies series, with the team set to travel to New Zealand for another three-match ODI series in November. The first game is scheduled for November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland, followed by matches in Wellington on November 7 and Hamilton on November 10. Further ODI series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are also lined up before the 2027 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s England ODI Form Ahead of 2027 World Cup
Kohli and Rohit were part of India’s most recent ODI series in England, where the hosts secured a 2-1 victory. Rohit had a difficult start to the series with scores of 11 and 26, but responded with a spectacular 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI at Lord’s. It was his 34th ODI century, although it came in a losing cause as England chased victory after posting 387/3.
Rohit ended the series with 175 runs, while his overall ODI record in England remains impressive. Across 27 ODIs in the country, he has scored 1,428 runs, the most by an overseas batter in England’s ODI history. Kohli is second on that list with 1,349 runs. Since the start of 2025, Kohli has also scored 1,035 runs in 19 ODI innings at an average of 64.68, including four centuries and seven fifties, while Rohit has made 1,029 runs in 23 innings at an average of 46.77, with three centuries and five half-centuries.
With the 2027 World Cup approaching, India will be counting heavily on the experience of Kohli and Rohit, particularly with the tournament set to be played on South African conditions where their familiarity with challenging surfaces could prove valuable. Their return against the West Indies is therefore expected to be an important step in India’s preparations for the biggest ODI event on the calendar.
