Rohit Sharma Welcomes Kohli Ahead of ODI Return
Before the three-match ODI series against England that starts at Edgbaston on July 14, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli reunited at the nets for the first time since January. During the preparations at the England location, the couple was seen having fun together in a scene that was documented on social media.
After the five-match T20I series against England concludes, both veterans will play their next encounter. They are now only focused on ODI cricket. As they go ready to advance to the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, their comeback to the 50-over format represents an important turning point. Prior to the event, which is set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, 2027, the England tour offers vital preparation.
India was defeated 1-2 by New Zealand in their most recent ODI series in January 2026. Nonetheless, Kohli played well in that series. With 124 runs off 108 balls in the last ODI at Indore, Kohli finished the series with 240 runs in three innings. The right-hander also achieved noteworthy feats, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run scorer in international cricket and reaching 28,000 in his 624th innings.
Meanwhile, Rohit had trouble in the series against New Zealand.
The veteran had mixed performances in the Afghanistan ODI series, scoring 14, 48, and 79, but he scored 26, 24, and 11 in the three games.
Building on the England series for the 2027 World Cup
With the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 approaching, 2026 is a crucial year for older players like Kohli and Sharma. If both continue to be a part of Team India’s primary ODI plans, they are anticipated to play the majority of games in 2026, making the England visit crucial for both batters.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final, Kohli was added to the ODI team; however, his participation is still contingent upon receiving the necessary fitness clearance.
The series will begin on July 14 at Edgbaston, then move on to Cardiff on July 16 and Lord’s on July 19. These locations present unique obstacles and will assess the veterans’ preparedness for the forthcoming World Cup.
Both batters contribute a wealth of expertise to India’s white-ball lineup. With 33 hundreds, Rohit is third on the list of all-time ODI centuries, after Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli is still setting records in all forms.
