Former Gujarat captain and seasoned batter Priyank Panchal has made a compelling case that the recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from T20 Internationals and Test cricket have served as a massive boost for the 50-over format. According to Panchal, the ODI game, which many believed was fading, has found new vitality precisely because these two modern legends now dedicate themselves solely to it.
A Strategic Boost for the 50-Over Game
Taking to social media platform X on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Panchal expressed his views clearly. He stated that the decision by Kohli and Rohit to step away from the other two international formats was "the best thing that could've happened to ODI cricket." He elaborated that the format, seemingly in its "final trenches," has experienced a sudden revival due to the exclusive focus of two of India's biggest cricketing icons.
The evidence for this revival, as Panchal implies, is in the players' performances. Since their retirements from the shorter and longest formats, both Kohli and Rohit have been in exceptional touch for the Indian ODI side. Their form was on full display during the recent home series against South Africa and continued into domestic cricket, where both scored centuries in the prestigious Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kohli on the Cusp of Another Historic Milestone
All eyes are now on the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning Sunday in Vadodara. The series holds extra significance for Virat Kohli, who stands on the verge of breaking another monumental record held by the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli's current career tally in international cricket sits at 27,975 runs, placing him a mere 25 runs away from the historic 28,000-run mark. If he achieves this feat in the New Zealand series or the subsequent England series scheduled for July 2026, he will surpass Tendulkar as the fastest player to reach the milestone. Tendulkar took 644 innings to get there, while Kohli has so far batted in 623 international innings.
This would not be the first time Kohli has overtaken a Tendulkar record, especially in ODI cricket. Most notably, he broke Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries during the 2023 World Cup and now boasts 53 hundreds heading into the New Zealand contest. While his Test form saw a dip, Kohli has found a remarkable second wind in the 50-over format since 2023, further underscoring Panchal's point about the benefits of format-specific focus.
Looking Ahead: Exclusivity as a Format's Lifeline
The debate around the future of ODI cricket has been intense, with several voices expressing concern. However, Panchal's perspective offers a unique counterpoint. He suggests that the star power and undivided attention of players like Kohli and Rohit can act as a powerful lifeline, drawing renewed fan and commercial interest to the format.
As the team prepares for the clash against New Zealand, the narrative is twofold: it's about India's performance in a bilateral series and also about witnessing two of its greatest batsmen, freed from the rigours of other formats, aiming to redefine their legacy and, in the process, potentially rejuvenate the ODI game itself.
