Virat Kohli 'undroppable' as Ashwin slams selection bias for Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli remains **untouchable** in India’s cricket team as long as he wants to play, Ravichandran Ashwin declared on 18 June 2026, citing the batter’s unmatched credentials and fan frenzy.

What did Ashwin say?

Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel *Ash Ki Baat*, called Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma **impossible to drop** because of their 12,000-plus international runs and decades of match-winning performances. He argued that the duo’s influence dwarfs that of bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, who face far steeper consequences for poor form.

Why the double standard?

The off-spinner pointed to a stark gap in how selectors treat batters versus bowlers. While Rohit Sharma’s recent returns shield him from axing, bowlers often get dropped after single bad spells. Siraj’s last Test came on 6 June 2026 against Afghanistan; Shami’s last outing was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai. Ashwin said the uproar over dropping Kohli or Rohit would dwarf any reaction to omitting a bowler.

What’s next for India’s XI?

With the World Test Championship cycle looming, Ashwin’s comments add pressure on selectors to balance youth and experience. He urged the board to extend the same protection to bowlers that star batters enjoy. But he made clear: as long as Kohli and Rohit deliver, their spots stay locked.

Virat Kohli has piled up over 26,000 international runs and 79 centuries across formats. Rohit Sharma, India’s white-ball captain, has 12,000-plus runs and five ODI World Cup titles. Their sheer numbers and global fanbases make them untouchable in the eyes of Ashwin-and likely the selectors too.