Ajit Agarkar on Virat Kohli fitness test in London: The chairman of selectors finally addressed the swirling rumours surrounding Virat Kohli’s fitness clearance. With Kohli and Rohit Sharma set to make their international return in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, Agarkar clarified the controversy over whether Kohli had undergone his fitness test abroad.
Earlier this year, all BCCI centrally contracted players were required to complete mandatory fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and others were spotted taking part. Kohli, however, was missing, sparking speculation.
Reports later suggested that Kohli had been given special permission to complete his fitness test in London, with the results sent back to Bengaluru. The story quickly went viral, drawing criticism against the board for allegedly favouring one player.
When asked about the matter during the squad announcement press conference, Agarkar dismissed any doubts.
“I think both of them (Rohit and Virat) have done their fitness tests or met the norms required. As far as I know, and as far as the selectors know, all players picked for the Australia series have been declared fit and available,” Agarkar explained.
He added that the selectors rely on the CoE for clearance updates before announcing any squad.
Rohit Sharma Removed as ODI Captain
In a major development, the selection committee replaced Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain. Rohit, who will now play purely as a batter, faces mounting pressure to let his bat speak if he wants to secure his spot in the XI.
Agarkar stressed that both Rohit and Kohli still have a vital role to play. “What they’ve been doing for years — scoring runs. That doesn’t change. They remain leaders in the dressing room, but ultimately it’s about performance. We hope they keep doing what they’ve done throughout their careers,” he said.
The chief selector also hinted that he wants both veterans to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy later this year to gain more match practice.
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Kohli & Rohit’s Future
Both senior pros last represented India in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. After the T20 World Cup win in 2024, they retired from T20Is, and more recently stepped away from Test cricket ahead of the England tour. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, their ODI form will be under close scrutiny.
As India gears up for the high-profile series against Australia, the spotlight remains firmly on Virat Kohli’s comeback, Rohit Sharma’s future, and the new leadership era under Shubman Gill.
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