"They Cannot Touch Virat and Rohit if They Want to Play" - R Ashwin's Bold Claim on Ro-Ko After ENG vs IND 2026 3rd ODI
Ashwin said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cannot be dropped from ODI cricket while they remain committed, citing their records and huge fan bases.
- On his Hindi YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin declared that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are untouchable by team management as long as they remain committed to ODI cricket, amid speculation the BCCI selection committee might phase out senior players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- Ashwin's comments followed India's ODI series conclusion on Sunday at Lord's, where 39-year-old Rohit Sharma banished retirement questions with his 34th century, scoring 138 runs off 110 balls including 17 boundaries and 5 sixes during a steep 388-run chase.
- Speaking directly about their career records, Ashwin stated, "They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him."
- Ashwin emphasized their massive fan base provides political insulation, saying, "They have an army, a battalion. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down"—unlike bowlers such as Shami, Siraj, or Bhuvneshwar who rarely trigger comparable public outcry.
- After the match, Rohit dismissed the speculation by affirming that the "noise will be there," maintaining his focus remains entirely on performing for the national team as he pursues the World Cup.
15 Articles
15 Articles
R Ashwin brands Rohit and Kohli as 'untouchable', reflects on their future in ODI cricket
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin came forward and talked about the duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, highlighting their importance in the Indian side after the ODI series defeat against England.
'They Cannot Touch Virat and Rohit': Ashwin's Big Claim
Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the ongoing speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma's future, asserting that players like Rohit and Virat Kohli are 'untouchable' due to their immense body of work and massive fan following. Ashwin highlighted that dropping such star batters would cause a significant uproar, unlike the reaction to bowlers being left out. This comes as Rohit recently silenced critics with a century at Lord's amidst retirement ru…
‘They cannot touch Virat and Rohit’: R Ashwin says duo undroppable from ODI squad
R Ashwin insists Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cannot be dropped from ODI cricket due to their immense credentials and fan following, praising Rohit's century at Lord's as a comeback effort.
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