With both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, India’s roadmap to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup enters a new phase. The legendary duo, who have served Indian cricket across formats for over a decade, will now focus solely on One-Day Internationals in the build-up to the next 50-over World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October–November 2027. India are set to play 27 ODIs across nine bilateral series against eight different nations before the tournament, offering both veterans ample match time to prepare for what could be their final World Cup appearances. Virat Kohli recently announced his retirement from Test cricket through a social media post, ending a red-ball career that spanned 123 matches and 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He also stepped away from T20 Internationals earlier this year, but remains committed to ODIs — the format in which he was the highest run-scorer in the 2023 World Cup held in India. Rohit Sharma, who had already stepped away from T20Is after captaining India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, confirmed that he will carry on in the 50-over format. Speaking recently, he stated, “I will continue to play the ODI format,” making his intentions clear ahead of what could be his final World Cup campaign.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? With both stalwarts moving on from the longer formats, India will rely on their experience to guide a younger core of players through the next ODI cycle.
India’s ODI schedule before 2027 World Cup
India’s lead-up to the World Cup will include six home series and three overseas tours, allowing them to face varied opposition in different conditions. This sequence of games will also help the selectors assess combinations and build squad depth.
Full schedule:
- August 2025 – Bangladesh (Away)
3 ODIs in turning conditions, marking India’s return to 50-over cricket after the Champions Trophy triumph. - October–November 2025 – Australia (Away)
3 high-profile ODIs between 2023 World Cup finalists. - November–December 2025 – South Africa (Home)
3 ODIs against a strong Proteas outfit in Indian conditions. - January 2026 – New Zealand (Home)
3 ODIs against the side they defeated in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. - June 2026 – Afghanistan (Home)
3 ODIs; Afghanistan bring a potent spin attack and an ever-improving squad. - July 2026 – England (Away)
3 ODIs in challenging English conditions, a vital overseas assignment before the World Cup. - September–October 2026 – West Indies (Home)
3 ODIs; the Caribbean side brings flair and power to the subcontinent. - October–November 2026 – New Zealand (Home)
3 ODIs as the Kiwis return for their second tour of India in the cycle. - December 2026 – Sri Lanka (Home)
3 ODIs; India look to avenge their 0–2 ODI series defeat from 2024 in Sri Lanka.
If fit, both Kohli and Rohit could play in most of the 27 scheduled matches, balancing form, workload, and leadership roles. Even appearing in 20–22 games would allow them to contribute meaningfully while guiding emerging talent through this important phase. The next two years will be about transition, but also about legacy — with India’s two greatest modern ODI batters preparing for one final shot at World Cup glory in southern Africa.
