In order to keep Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing throughout the year, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to arrange extra One-Day Internationals. India’s 2026 cricket schedule will begin on January 11 with a three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
ODI matches between the Men in Blue and Afghanistan, England, the West Indies, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka are also planned. The Champions Trophy triumph marked the end of an era, with Kohli and Rohit retiring from Test cricket and finishing 2025 as single-format players.
Pathan questioned why the BCCI can’t stage five-match, triangular, or quadrangular series as both mainstays now only play one format as Kohli and Rohit get ready for another spectacular year in ODIs.
“Why cannot we have five ODIs instead of three? Why can’t we have a triangular or quadrangular series? Why cannot we arrange that, because these two greats play only one format? It would not be wrong to say that if a lot of interest has returned to ODI cricket, these two have brought it,” Pathan said on Follow the Blues.
Additionally, Pathan said that keeping both hitters occupied will be beneficial for India ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“The biggest thing is that they are also performing. The World Cup is far away. You will definitely want to think about it, but I am also thinking that the more we get to see them, the better. These two players should keep playing, keep representing India, and when they are not playing for India, they should continue playing domestic cricket, because the more they play, the better it is,” Pathan added.
Prior to the World Cup in 2019, India last participated in a five-match ODI series against Australia. Even during World Cup years, ODI series have since been restricted to a maximum of three games. In the run-up to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, India played their most recent triangular series against Australia and England in Australia in 2015.
India’s top run scorers in ODIs in 2025 were Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. With a maximum score of 135 and a strike rate of more than 96, Kohli scored 651 runs at an average of 65.10 in 13 innings, including three hundreds and four fifties. In contrast, Rohit amassed 650 runs at an average of 50.00 over the course of 14 innings, striking at over 100 with two hundreds, four fifties, and a highest score of an unbeaten 121.
Additionally, both players participated in two Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) matches for Delhi and Mumbai, respectively. Kohli scored 131 and 77, while Rohit scored an unbeaten 155 and a duck in two innings. On January 6, Kohli is expected to play for Delhi against Railways in another match.
In the run-up to the World Cup 2027, both batters are anticipated to be busy throughout the year despite not having any long series.
