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Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said the Indian team management cannot exclude Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the ODI squad. He said it is impossible to drop the two as long as they want to play international cricket.

The veteran commented amid reports of Rohit’s retirement from the fifty-over format. The 39-year-old answered his doubters with a magnificent 138 runs off 110 balls in the series decider against the Harry Brook-led team at Lord’s on July 19.  He hit 17 boundaries and 5 sixes.

Ashwin highlighted that both Kohli and Rohit have a massive fan base that would start speaking against the decision-makers if the two are dropped from the national team. He noted that it is easy to drop Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as they don’t enjoy a massive fan following.

“They cannot touch Rohit and Virat if they want to continue playing for India. They have impressive credentials. Rohit is close to 12,000 ODI runs, and they can’t touch him. They are batters, and if they touch them, they have an army of fans. People come to the stadium to watch them. If they are dropped, it will break the roof down,” R Ashwin said.

“If Shami, Siraj, and Bhuvneshwar are not selected, around ten thousand will raise their voices. Their exclusion will not make noise. If the fans start making noise for the bowlers as well, it will be difficult to drop them. It is impossible to drop Rohit and Virat. Such rules don’t apply to the bowlers,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin suggested that senior bowlers like Siraj, Shami and Bhuvneshwar are needed at the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have done well, and they all should be part of the team. They will be useful on the South African wickets. You need to keep them in contention.”

Indian bowlers conceded a lot of runs as England posted 387 for 3 in 50 overs. India missed the presence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out due to a knee injury.

Despite Sharma’s hundred (138), Shubman Gill’s (77) and Kohli’s (74) brilliant batting, India fell short by 27 runs.

R Ashwin hails Rohit Sharma’s ton in ENG vs IND 2026 3rd ODI

R Ashwin lauded Rohit Sharma following the opener’s ton. He reckoned that the former skipper could have led India to a win if he had scored 180 runs.

“He played a phenomenal knock. He was set in the middle and could have scored 180 and won the match for India. He was in good form and looked at his best at Lord’s.”

According to Ashwin, Rohit doesn’t need to prove himself.

“It was not difficult for him, considering the way he batted. We have been watching him for years, and he has nothing left to prove. It is about the internal satisfaction. He wants to go to the 2027 ODI World Cup, and that’s why he is playing like this.”

Rohit became the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s in London.