Priyank Panchal explains why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from T20Is and Tests is best thing for ODI cricket

Rohit Sharma of India and Virat Kohli of India running between the wicket during the 1st ODI match between India and South Africa at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, India on November 30, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)

Former Gujarat captain and prolific batter Priyank Panchal on Saturday said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from both T20Is and Tests was the best thing that has happened to ODI cricket, with new life being breathed into the 50-over format due to this being the only format that these two Indian legends play exclusively.

“Virat and Rohit retiring from the other two formats was the best thing that could’ve happened to ODI cricket. The 50-overs game, which seemed to be in its final trenches, has suddenly been revived because two of India’s biggest legends play exclusively that format,” Panchal posted on X.

Since retiring from T20Is and Tests, Kohli and Rohit have been on song for the Indian ODI side, even scoring tons in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They also impressed in the South South Africa series before the domestic tournament.

— Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) January 10, 2026

They’ll next be in action against New Zealand in the 1st of the 3-match ODI series, starting on Sunday at Vadodara. Kohli, meanwhile, is standing on the precipice of breaking a record currently held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Kohli’s career tally of runs in international cricket currently stands at 27,975 and he is hence only 25 runs away from getting to 28,000. If he does it in the series against New Zealand, or even the next series against England which is scheduled to be played in July, Kohli could overtake Tendulkar as the fastest player to get to the mark. Kohli has played 623 innings in international cricket thus far while Tendulkar had got there in 644.

It won’t be the first time that Kohli breaks a record held by Tendulkar, particularly in ODI cricket. Most famously, Kohli overtook Tendulkar’s record tally of 49 in ODI cricket during the 2023 World Cup. He now has 53 centuries going into the New Zealand series. While his form in Test cricket dwindled, Kohli has seemingly got a second wind in ODI cricket since 2023.