Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli’s ODI return to be decided in 2 days as BCCI-SLC meet at ICC AGM

There’s a two-month gap staring at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) currently. Right after the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ends on August 2, the very next scheduled match for the Men in Blue would be the start of the home season as they host the West Indies. But before that, the Asia Cup 2025 window is available. But it won’t take more than three weeks. So what about the rest of August? Enter Sri Lanka, and with them, a glimmer of hope for fans yearning to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in India colours.

The two modern-day greats now exclusively play ODIs, having retired from both Tests and T20Is. With India’s ODI schedule limited this year, fans were pinning their hopes on a potential white-ball series against Sri Lanka. And until this week, it looked like that might materialize.

India-Sri Lanka talks gain steam, then stall

The white-ball window emerged after the India-Bangladesh series was shelved, reportedly due to security concerns. With the Lanka Premier League (LPL) postponed, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) saw an opportunity and quickly proposed a short series of three ODIs and three T20Is to the BCCI. Talks were scheduled to progress during the ongoing ICC meetings in Singapore.

“We’ve received positive feedback. Further discussions will happen in Singapore during the ICC meeting. We expect a final decision within two or three days,” a senior SLC official told Telecom Asia Sport.

From SLC’s perspective, the benefits were clear. They had a groups stage finish at last year’s T20 World Cup. Also, Sri Lanka recently lost their first T20I bilateral series to Bangladesh as well. Also, playing against India is a much-needed financial boost. Venues in Colombo and Kandy were identified, and the stage was nearly set.

However, just as momentum built, uncertainty crept in. On Wednesday, a Sports Tak report quoted a BCCI source saying, “We will decide about the series, but it looks unlikely.” This seriously put the series under question.

Rohit-Kohli ODI return still in limbo

If the Sri Lanka series falls through, India’s stalwarts may not don the blue jersey until late October, when India tour Australia for a three-match ODI series. That would mark over eight months since their last appearance since the 2025 Champions Trophy final on March 9, where they lifted the trophy against New Zealand.

Both players had already retired from Tests in May and from T20Is after last year’s World Cup win. ODI cricket remains their only active format and with India slated to play just six more ODIs in 2025 (three each vs Australia and South Africa), the opportunities are vanishing.

For now, the ball is in BCCI’s court. Whether they greenlight the Sri Lanka tour or let the gap persist, a decision is expected within the next 48 hours at the ICC AGM in Singapore.