We look at each other and laugh watching Ro-Ko story play out on TV: Rohit Sharma

For nearly two decades, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been constants in Indian cricket. They have played together, led together, celebrated together and endured some of the game's most painful defeats together. Now, as both enter the twilight of their international careers, Rohit says the bond between them remains much the same as it was when it began.

Their relationship has been under the spotlight again in recent days, with the pair's popular 'Ro-Ko' moniker becoming a talking point after Kohli spoke about it recently. Kohli said the tag had a "nice ring to it" and that he enjoyed the fun around it.

Rohit, speaking to JioStar himself, revealed that the two have a rather simple reaction whenever the 'Ro-Ko' tag appears on television.

"I think we were together. This started, I think, when we were playing in Australia, or right after Australia when we came to India. That's when this started, and whenever this plays on TV, we look at each other and laugh. Which is good, it's fun. People want masala, so there you go, there is some masala," Rohit, speaking to JioStar ahead of India's second ODI against West Indies on Wednesday, said.

Behind the jokes, though, is a relationship built over years of shared experience. Rohit made his India debut in 2007; Kohli followed in 2008. Since then, their careers have become deeply intertwined.

"Both of us, we've almost started playing at the same time. I made my debut in 2007, he made his debut in 2008. And since then, we've been trying to give our best for the team," Rohit said.

"So yeah, there's a strong camaraderie between the two of us, and we understand what it requires to be at a certain level when you're playing at this level. Methods are different, obviously, but that's how it should be, every individual is different."ROHIT APPLAUDS KOHLI'S TEST CAPTAINCY

The numbers underline just how much of Indian cricket's recent history the two have shared. Kohli has played 91 ODIs under Rohit's captaincy, scoring 3,682 runs at an average of 41.37, with nine hundreds. Rohit, meanwhile, played 145 matches under Kohli's captaincy, scoring 7,469 runs at an average of 50.12 and making 25 centuries.

It was also during Kohli's captaincy that Rohit's Test career was transformed. After struggling to establish himself in the middle order, he was promoted to open in Tests and went on to become one of India's most prolific red-ball openers.

Kohli, in turn, remained a key figure during Rohit's captaincy, including India's triumphant campaigns at the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Rohit has been particularly appreciative of what Kohli brought to Indian cricket as Test captain.

"Appreciation, appreciation if something good has happened, it has always been there from both sides. I appreciate what he has done, you know, when he took over as captain of the Test team, especially. It was brilliant, what he did with that team," Rohit said.

Their relationship, he explained, has also extended beyond the dressing room and into the finer details of batting.

"At the same time, there has been a lot of discussion about how both of us as individuals can improve our own game. So, sometimes if something is happening with my batting, he comes and mentions it, sometimes I mention it. So that conversation always keeps going, so it's not different."

The same applies when they walk out to bat together. There is no need for grand conversations about the significance of a World Cup or what is at stake. Kohli has already played four ODI World Cups, beginning with India's victorious 2011 campaign, and will be appearing at his fifth in 2027. He confirmed last week that the tournament will be his final World Cup for India, describing winning it as his motivation.2027 WORLD CUP PLANNING WITH KOHLI?

Asked whether he had spoken to Kohli about the upcoming World Cup, Rohit laughed off the need for any such discussion.

"No, no. He has been playing for so many years. Whether it's the '27 World Cup or the '23 World Cup, there's no need to explain it to him. World Cup is World Cup. And I'm pretty sure that everyone who is going to be part of the team understands the importance of a World Cup. And especially Kohli."

Instead, their conversations remain wonderfully ordinary.

"When we are batting together, we are discussing whom to attack, whom to take a single off, what to do. Sometimes something happens in my leg, so I tell him, 'Brother, run carefully, I'm feeling something.' So he is understanding that way. And, you know, such conversations keep happening. So it's been pretty fun."

That, perhaps, is what Rohit wants people to understand about their relationship. The roles have changed, the years have passed and both are now playing only ODIs for India. But the central idea has remained intact.

"Nothing has changed from when we started to now. Obviously, we're different individuals in terms of how we carry ourselves on the field, but other than that, goal, thinking for the team is pretty much the same: that we have to win the match. We have to win the World Cup, we have to win the tournament, we have to win the series, we have to do well for the team. Which people can we help? That is completely the same."

And as that journey moves towards what could be their final World Cup together, Rohit sees no reason for Kohli to become anything other than the player he has always been.

"For what he has done for the team, for this team, there is no question, there is no asking what he has done. It's there for everyone to see. And what he is going to do from here on now, I don't think anything has changed. He'll be the same Kohli that we know of: he wants to come, prepare well, go get the runs, win games for Team India. Yeah, that's what I see with him. When he was captain, it was pretty much the same. When I was captain, it was pretty much the same. And I don't see any reason why anything needs to change."

And there is one final, more personal change. The two simply do not see each other as often away from cricket any more. Kohli now spends much of his time in London, while Rohit remains based in Mumbai, and with both having stepped away from Test cricket and T20Is, the regularity of their meetings has disappeared too.

"Although yes, now we meet very rarely because his house is quite far from mine. And every month, or every month and a half, an ODI series happens, so because of that it's less. Otherwise, until a year ago, every 5-7 days we were on tour, so we didn't get much time at home. Now both of us are spending more time at home, which is always nice."

For all the fascination around 'Ro-Ko', Rohit's description of the relationship is less dramatic than the nickname suggests: two players who have spent almost 20 years chasing the same thing, even when their paths, personalities and methods have been different.- Ends