Following India’s victory over the West Indies in the first Test match on October 4th in Ahmedabad, the squad for the Australia tour was announced. Agarkar, the head of the selection committee, was present for the announcement. Two key issues were the return of Kohli and Sharma and the appointment of Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain. Agarkar addressed both matters, with the focus primarily on the selection and future of Rohit and Virat.

Agarkar’s most unexpected statement concerned the prospect of both players participating in the 2027 World Cup. When asked about their involvement in the tournament, Agarkar stated that neither player had made a definitive decision. He said, “Virat and Rohit have not yet fully decided about the World Cup.” This statement was surprising, as Kohli and Sharma had previously expressed their desire to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. This has led to speculation that they might retire from ODI cricket after this series.

Agarkar did not make any announcements or provide any indications from the selection committee regarding this matter. However, he clarified that it was not appropriate to discuss their World Cup participation at this time. The former Indian fast bowler also dismissed rumors suggesting this could be their final international series, stating he had not heard any such discussions or rumors about a ‘farewell series’ for Virat and Rohit.

Furthermore, Agarkar clarified that all players, including the two batsmen, must participate in domestic cricket if they are not playing international cricket. The focus will now be on whether these two players will participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after the Australia tour.

Key players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are in the spotlight. Both have showcased their talents in T20 formats, but have been primarily involved in Test cricket over the past year. Both players have shown good form, with a good performance in the IPL 2025. The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is unlikely to be changed. The debate is about who will be chosen as a backup opener or for the number three position. Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh’s chances in the middle order are also uncertain. Iyer has impressed in domestic cricket and the IPL, after being excluded from the Indian team last year. His explosive batting and captaincy, and contribution to India winning the Champions Trophy is noteworthy. The selection panel’s decision on these players will be crucial.

Speaking to The Times of India, Sourav Ganguly said, “He is young, and I am sure he will get a chance. Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jadeja have all scored runs. The number three slot is a bit weak, and Easwaran can be played there. It’s a place where Abhimanyu can perform well.”

Abhimanyu’s father also revealed that Gautam Gambhir had spoken to his son and assured him that he was doing the right things and would surely get his chance. The Indian team’s head coach had said, “I will not drop you from the team after just one or two matches.”

Abhimanyu Easwaran has not made his international debut yet, but he has scored 7841 runs in 103 first-class matches at an average of 48.70. He has 27 centuries and 31 half-centuries. Abhimanyu’s best score in first-class is 233 runs. Talking about List A, he has scored 3857 runs in 89 matches at an average of 47.03. He has 9 centuries and 23 half-centuries to his name. His best score is 149 runs.