Having stepped away from T20Is and Tests, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will once again be watching the action from the sidelines, during the upcoming T20-format Asia Cup in the UAE. Their much-anticipated return is likely in late October, when India tour Australia for a white-ball series that includes three ODIs.
For former India batter Suresh Raina, the absence is temporary — and their ODI value remains beyond question.
India don’t have dependable players at No. 1 and No. 3 (in ODIs) at the moment, especially when chasing.
Leadership Beyond the Captaincy
Rohit’s future as ODI captain is still uncertain, even after guiding India to the Champions Trophy earlier this year. But Raina insists their leadership extends beyond the armband.
Rohit and Virat’s experience is very important… It’s crucial for the seniors to stay involved with the juniors. Shubman (Gill) has done really well, but he needs players like Virat and Rohit.
Gill has stepped into the Test captaincy role, impressing on the England tour with 754 runs in 10 innings at a staggering average of 75.40, including four centuries. But Raina believes mentorship from proven champions is irreplaceable.
They have won the Champions Trophy, they have won the World Cups. Virat won the last IPL also. For the astute leadership they have shown during their respective careers, they need to be part of the dressing room.
T20 and Test Farewells
Both players retired from T20Is after India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year and from Test cricket earlier this season. Yet, their ODI chapter, Raina feels, should continue at least through the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
Siraj — The Relentless Spearhead
Raina also reserved high praise for pacer Mohammed Siraj, whose fiery spells were central to India’s 2-2 Test series draw in England. Siraj finished the series as the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets at 32.43, including a decisive five-wicket haul in the Oval Test that secured a six-run win.
Siraj should be part of the Indian set-up in all three formats the way he has performed for the country both with white ball and red ball. He bowled 187 overs in the series and went through without a niggle.
On the final day of that last Test, England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand — but Siraj’s burst of three wickets sealed the match. “You need such characters who want to take wickets and want to bowl with the new ball. Such an attitude is very important, especially when you don’t have Mohammed Shami around. If anybody other than Shami has mastered this art, it’s Bumrah and Siraj.”
