Indian cricket might be big, but perhaps not bigger than the names of its players. And sometimes, it’s under the weight of these big names that even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finds itself stuck. But this time, it seems the BCCI has been shaken into action — which is why the future of Rohit and Kohli now hangs by a thread.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — India will no longer be held back by the weight of their names. The BCCI itself is now preparing to make a final decision regarding the future of these two great cricketers.
Their futures hang in the balance. Their contributions to Indian cricket are undeniable. However, age seems to be gradually wearing away their place in the team. Their sharpness with the bat is fading, and so is the trust placed in them. This has caused concern within the BCCI.
The central contracts of the Indian national team typically run from October to September. The last cycle ended in September 2024. There’s been a lot of speculation about when the new contracts will be announced. Initially, it was said the new list would be revealed at the beginning of the year. However, leading Indian media outlet Times of India reports that the announcement could be delayed until October this year.
Many might wonder — why such a delay? Sources within the board say there are several reasons. Firstly, the board is quite dissatisfied with India’s recent Test performances. It started with a loss to Australia, followed by a home series defeat to New Zealand — worsening the inconsistency.
Meanwhile, the fate of young batter Ishan Kishan in Test cricket seems to be mostly decided. His lack of consistency as an “X-factor” isn’t working in his favor. But the most discussion surrounds Rohit and Kohli. Regular captain Rohit Sharma faces uncertainty, and Virat Kohli’s inconsistency with the bat is another source of concern.
Despite that, the team won the T20 World Cup in the 2023-24 season and has been performing well in ODIs too. For that reason, many within the board believe it wouldn’t be right to downgrade the contract grades of Rohit, Kohli, or even the experienced Ravindra Jadeja.
However, the BCCI reportedly has even bigger plans. The board is set to restructure the team by changing both the number of support staff and the team’s framework. Perhaps that’s why they are taking their time — a major shakeup may be on the way with the upcoming contract announcements.
