Ro-Ko limitless after limiting themselves to single format

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli look rejuvenated after limiting themselves to one format, showing renewed clarity, hunger, and dominance.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are among the finest batters the ODI format has ever seen. Even in the twilight of their careers, the duo have returned to dominate the ODI batting rankings, asserting their authority since retiring from the other two formats.

Shortly after winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, the pair announced their retirement from the international T20 format. A disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy series down under proved to be their last in the whites. Ever since, the pair have represented India exclusively in the ODIs.

While ODIs are played far less frequently these days, both Rohit and Virat have excelled whenever they have taken the field. Below are the numbers of the two white-ball greats since becoming one-format players.

Since India’s triumph at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the pair have been prolific. While Kohli was India’s second-highest run-getter in the tournament with 216 runs, Rohit scored his tally of 180 runs at a strike rate of 100.

When many had written them off due to a lack of match practice and questioned their place in the format, the duo responded with a deluge of runs. If it was Rohit Sharma who emerged as the leading run-getter (202) in the three-match ODI series against Australia, Kohli stole the show with 302 runs at an average of 151 in the home series against South Africa.

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How did Ro-Ko manage to change things around?
There is little doubt that the duo have committed to the ODI format with one clear objective in mind; and that is to win the ICC World Cup in 2027. The trophy has eluded them in their last three attempts, and the 2027 edition represents their final opportunity to lay hands on cricket’s most coveted prize.

To achieve that, both understand the need to be fitter and hungrier than ever, with age no longer on their side. With ODIs becoming increasingly scarce on the international calendar, every opportunity now carries added significance.

In Rohit Sharma’s case, he appears to be in his best physical shape in years, a transformation that has reflected clearly in both his batting and fielding. He was among India’s standout fielders in the recent series against South Africa and has registered four 50-plus scores in his last six ODI innings.

The same goes for Virat. The latest series against South Africa rolled him back to the days of ODI dominance. In the second ODI, where he amassed 102, India’s No.3 showed why he is a great accumulator of runs in this format. Of the 102, 62 runs came through singles or doubles, substantiating his fitness levels. 

On the contrary, in the first ODI where he made 135, Kohli smashed seven maximums, the second most he has hit in an innings, showing the range of shots. This shows how quick he is on his feet, especially after the two ducks he scored in Australia.

From the half-century in Sydney to the home ODIs against South Africa, he has delivered moments that fans will remember fondly. It is exactly the kind of cricket Indian and global audiences had been yearning for, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia.

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What does Rohit & Kohli’s form mean?
Their resurgence carries significance for multiple stakeholders. Within the dressing room, it has injected a renewed sense of positivity and calm after the disappointments endured in Tests. For the opposition, their form sends an ominous warning ahead of the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. And for the fans, it offers ample reason to believe and to celebrate.

Overall, the duo with over 25,000 ODI runs between them appear firmly focused on adding another ICC trophy to their cabinet and driving Indian cricket forward.

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