BCCI may not consider Rohit, Kohli indispensable if they fail in Champions Trophy

The BCCI still considers struggling batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma indispensable. But that may not be the case if the stars fade in the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir will meet with BCCI officials on Saturday to discuss, among other things, the India future of Rohit and Kohli.

The duo failed to deliver in consecutive series of defeats at home to New Zealand and in Australia. But the BCCI is likely to give the benefit of doubt to the experienced pair considering it was Test cricket, and they still hold sway in one-dayers, with the Champions Trophy being one played in that format.

According to PTI, the BCCI meeting will discuss whether (or when) to activate the transition switch post-Champions Trophy if Rohit and Kohli don't live up to expectations. Even though the Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, India's matches will take place in the UAE due to diplomatic issues.

A factor that counts in favour of Rohit and Kohli is the relatively small sample size of ODI matches they played in 2024 since India's triumph in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Both Rohit and Kohli played just three ODI matches in 2024, in the series against Sri Lanka. While Kohli scored average scores of 24, 14, and 20 in Colombo, Rohit scored 58, 64, and 35. But Kohli had a spectacular 2023, as he was the top-run getter in the World Cup, with three centuries and six fifties, while Rohit was second-best. Along with the two seniors, coach Gambhir's future will also be debated.