Ravichandran Ashwin: Dropping Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is 'Almost Impossible'

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes dropping senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is virtually impossible as long as they want to continue playing, citing their extraordinary achievements and immense fan following. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the pillars of Indian cricket for over 15 years, and as long as they continue to perform, leaving them out of the national team is far from straightforward. While opportunities should be created for the next generation, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes the duo enjoy a level of protection that bowlers rarely receive. Ashwin argued that star batters like Rohit and Virat command unparalleled influence because of their achievements and massive fan following, whereas bowlers such as Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are more vulnerable to being dropped despite their contributions. Siraj last represented India in the Test against Afghanistan on June 6, 2026, in New Chandigarh, while Shami's most recent international appearance came in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand in Dubai. Speaking on his YouTube channel, 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin said dropping Rohit is not as simple as leaving out any other player, particularly after the veteran opener's recent performances. He also highlighted the long-standing disparity in Indian cricket, where star batters often receive greater backing and recognition than bowlers.

'No-one can touch Virat or Rohit'

"No one will be able to touch Virat or Rohit if they want to continue playing because both have incredible credentials. Rohit has more than 12,000 international runs, and both of them have consistently delivered for India. They are batters, and they have massive fan armies. People come to the stadiums to watch them. If you drop either of them, the noise will be deafening," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

Ashwin raises voice for bolwers

Ashwin contrasted that with the treatment of bowlers. "If Shami isn't picked, or Siraj isn't picked, or Bhuvneshwar isn't picked, maybe 10 people will ask questions, then 100, 1,000 or even 10,000 at most. But it won't create the same uproar. That's the difference. If bowlers also started receiving that kind of support, they too would become undroppable. But the reality is that dropping Virat or Rohit is almost impossible," he added.