Ashwin Sees Rohit and Kohli Heading Into Coaching, on Different Timelines
Ravichandran Ashwin says Mumbai Indians should snap up Rohit Sharma as a coach after retirement, while Virat Kohli may want a break from the game first.
By SportCricket Desk · 14 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Ravichandran Ashwin believes both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could eventually become coaches, though he expects them to take different routes. He shared his views on his YouTube channel.
Mumbai Indians and Rohit
Ashwin said Mumbai Indians should bring Rohit into their coaching staff as soon as he decides to stop playing. He pointed to a captain who won five IPL titles and led India to a World Cup, saying people with that background are rare.
He suggested, however, that Rohit might avoid the demanding head coach job at first. After a short break, he could take a lighter role, in the way Rahul Dravid moved into coaching after time away from the game.
Rohit is 39 and is aiming for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which could be the last major tournament of his playing career. Coaching could follow once he retires from international cricket.
Kohli may want a pause
Ashwin expects a different approach from Kohli. He said he does not think Kohli would be ready to coach straight away, and that he would probably prefer to take a break from cricket first, although he admitted he did not know for sure.
His comments suggest that both players could one day contribute from the dugout, even though their paths into coaching may look quite different.
