Speculation around Rohit Sharma’s return as India’s ODI captain continues to swirl on social media, and many even suggested Virat Kohli might take a U-turn from his Test retirement. But the BCCI and the selectors have already moved on, and there is no plan to go back to former captains.
BCCI Ends Speculation: No Rohit Sharma ODI Captaincy Return, Virat Kohli’s Test Comeback Clarified
Despite growing online chatter and emotional campaigns, the BCCI silenced the swirling social media speculations. As reported by the Indian Express and Jagran News journalists, the BCCI has categorically denied any plans for Rohit Sharma to return as ODI captain or for Virat Kohli to stage a Test comeback in 2026.
Read Also: Ruturaj Gaikwad breaks Virat Kohli’s all-time record, becomes India’s No.1 List A batter
The Indian cricket board said that they stick to their decisions and there is no looking back, whether it is Test cricket or the ODI format. The sources made it clear that the era of recalling past captains is over, and the leadership transition has already taken place.
Many people are asking whether #RohitSharma will be given ODI captaincy again. As far as I know, BCCI and selectors won’t take that call. They have moved forward.
— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) January 3, 2026
अब किसी पुराने को कप्तानी नहीं मिल रही। लाइक-व्यू के चक्कर में आपके सेंटीमेंट से खेलने वालों से दूर रहें। बीसीसीआइ एक बार आगे बढ़ जाता है तो पीछे की तरफ नहीं देखता। न टेस्ट में न वनडे में….#indiancricketteam
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) January 3, 2026
No Test Return for Virat Kohli
There is no chance of a comeback from Kohli’s Test retirement despite India’s red-ball cricket struggles. Notably, Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025. The Test team has endured a tough phase, including shocking home series losses to New Zealand and South Africa.
Adding to the pain, India also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after more than ten years and also suffered a Test series defeat in England. Despite this, they suggested that the BCCI is not in the mood to reverse major calls, ruling out Kohli’s Test return.
कुछ न होगा….टेस्ट में तो प्रदर्शन पहले से ही खराब है।
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) January 3, 2026
Rohit Sharma’s Role and Shubman Gill’s Captaincy
The board shuts the door on Rohit Sharma’s reinstatement as ODI skipper. Shubman Gill is the confirmed long-term captain for India’s ODI side.
The BCCI and the selectors are now seeing Rohit as a key senior batsman within the ODI setup under Gill’s captaincy, especially with the ICC World Cup 2027 on the radar. The focus is on stability and building for the future under the current captain.
Read Also: Shubman Gill health update: Punjab coach issues official statement, confirms return timeline
Why the BCCI Is Sticking to Its Decisions
– They prioritize nurturing the next generation of batters.
– Constant backtracking on major decisions creates uncertainty and hampers long-term planning.
– The board is determined to support Shubman Gill and selectors, saying the leadership transition is essential for long-term success.
Irfan Pathan Backs Long Run for Rohit and Kohli in ODI Cricket
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan wants both Rohit and Kohli to play as much cricket as they can since they are now only active in ODI cricket, keeping in mind the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Pathan was quoted as saying by JioStar, “You definitely want to think about the ICC 2027 ODI World Cup. It is far away, but I just want to see both Rohit and Kohli playing for the longest time, for India and, when not playing international cricket, in domestic cricket. They are playing just one format and nothing else, so the more they play, the better it is.”
