The Indian selectors have almost confirmed that the two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, won't get a smooth transition to the 2027 ODI World Cup. A report from Dainik Jagran has said that the players will be pooled in the Vijay Hazare trophy later this year to be eligible for the tournament. Notably both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are solely available for the ODI format after taking retirement from the T20 earlier and Test cricket before the England series. In early 2026, they are supposed to be back with the blue jersey for their ODI assignments. But all depends on the Vijay Hazare performance. For over ten years, the pair have been the fulcrum of India’s one-day dominance. While the assumption had been that the 2027 event in South Africa would be their last hurrah in the format, reports from Dainik Jagran indicate the path forward will not be automatic. Selection for the tournament will require participation in domestic one-day cricket, mirroring the Ranji Trophy requirement set for red-ball hopefuls before the England tour earlier this year. Read also: Akash Deep Shares Wisdom from Senior Indian Cricketers Australia ODIs could be last if condition not met India’s upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia this October may become more than just another overseas assignment. Should Kohli and Rohit decide against committing to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the series could effectively serve as their ODI farewell. The matches are scheduled for Perth on October 19, Adelaide on October 22, and Sydney on October 25. The domestic participation clause stems from the selectors’ long-term planning for the 2027 World Cup. With a deep pool of emerging talent, the selection panel wants players to maintain format-specific sharpness while also accelerating the integration of younger options. If both stalwarts agree to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy later this year, it will keep them in the frame for future ODI assignments, including the home series against South Africa in November-December. If not, the shift towards a younger core will begin immediately.