Will the one-format gamble pay off for Rohit and Virat?

The ODI batting icons want to play on, but sticking only to the least popular format may not work for long

- Rasesh Mandani

There have been fleeting glimpses of Ro-Ko, as their army of social media followers have dubbed them over the last few months. At family outings, endorsement shoots, and the odd awards night appearance. It’s only through the ubiquitous mobile camera that we know that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also been training for further cricket.

The last time Rohit, 38, and Virat, 36, played in India colours was at the Champions Trophy seven months ago. They then featured in IPL, but for four-and-a-half months since then they haven't played any competitive cricket. Such long periods of inactivity are inevitable since both have retired from T20s and Tests, and are available only for ODI cricket. It’s a path less travelled and they run the risk of being found rusty and unprepared.

Come Sunday at the Perth stadium, we will know if the 11 kilos Rohit has lost on the treadmill and the workouts Kohli has done in his new home abroad has been ideal buildup. It may help that they have done it 273 (Rohit) and 302 (Kohli) times (their ODI caps) before. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, after picking them for the three-match ODI series in Australia, only said “we will know”.