Ravi Shastri fires strong warning amid criticism and mishandling of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

Ravi Shastri did not hold back in his criticism of the decision-makers in Indian cricket over the treatment of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The legendary pair continue to be recognized as the best batsmen in ODI cricket and are on course to qualify for the 2027 World Cup. Following their retirement from Test cricket last year and the decision to quit T20Is, significant concerns have been raised about the veterans’ future in ODIs. Speculation has intensified following reports that the team management did not include them in their plans for the 2027 World Cup despite making a significant contribution to the 2025 Champions Cup victory.

Recently, the BCCI along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have come under criticism for their handling of Virat and Rohit. Shastri praised the duo’s excellence in white-ball cricket, suggesting that those who harass Indian cricket icons should be careful about their own positions.

In the teaser of an upcoming interview with Prabhat Khabar, Shastri said, “These two are grandfathers. White-ball giants, toh aise players ke izleh aap masti mat karo yaar (don’t needle them). Agar unka dimaag theek ho gaya na ve sahi buton dabaaye na, sab aaju-baaju nikal jayenge (If their brains get better and they press the right button, everyone will run for cover.”

When asked who was responsible for the ‘masti’ with them, the former Indian head coach replied. ‘Karne waale kar rahe hain. ‘Agar unka dimaag theek ho gaya na aur sahi bata daba diya, to sab aaju baaju nikal jayenge’ (‘Some people do this. And if these two are opened properly, if you press the right buttons, anyone hanging around will disappear from the stage very quickly)’ added Shastri.

There were widespread claims that Rohit and Virat will complete their ODI careers during the series in Australia this October. But the duo let their performances speak for themselves. In the five ODIs since then, Virat has managed two-and-a-half centuries, while Rohit has recorded a century and three-and-a-half centuries.

Meanwhile, former India captain Rohit Sharma is set to make an unexpected return to the domestic T20 scene by confirming his availability for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) knockouts. This comes as the BCCI intensifies efforts to ensure centrally contracted players participate regularly in domestic competitions.

Rohit, who quit T20 Internationals last year and is currently playing only one format, made his decision during the ongoing India-South Africa ODI series. According to reports, he has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he is fit for the knockout stage and is planning to head directly to Indore, the venue for the Mumbai matches, after the third ODI in Visakhapatnam on December 6.

Also read| ‘People who haven’t achieved much…’: Harbhajan Singh slams critics who question Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI futures