It remains uncertain if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be available for the next ODI World Cup, scheduled for 2027. The appointment of Gautam Gambhir as head coach of the Indian team has cast doubt over the futures of veteran batters Rohit and Virat. Both announced their retirements from T20I cricket after the T20 World Cup final last month. Although BCCI Secretary Jay Shah assured that Rohit will lead the team during the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2025, their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup remains in question.
During a press conference, Gambhir reiterated that both Rohit and Kohli are in his plans, emphasising that they still have plenty of cricket left in them. However, former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth pointed out that Gambhir had previously suggested that senior players would not be part of his team if they failed to perform in the T20 World Cup.
"Gautam Gambhir has taken a U-turn. Before the T20 World Cup 2024, he said if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not perform, they would not be in my team. Now, he is saying there is no player like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. "After becoming head coach, he said that both have a lot of cricket left, and hopefully they will be fit for the 2027 World Cup."
Regarding their participation in the ODI World Cup, Srikkanth suggested that while Kohli could feature in the tournament due to his high fitness standards, it would be challenging for Rohit to play beyond the age of 40.
"He is a good player, but his age is 37 presently, and the next ODI World Cup is three more years ahead. He will be 40 years old then. Unless you are a super-fit person like MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar, you can't play in the World Cup in your 40s. Yeah, Virat Kohli could play in the 2027 World Cup, in my opinion, for sure. But for Rohit, Mr. Gambhir, you went overboard; he will faint in South Africa," Srikkanth added.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be held in Africa, with South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia jointly hosting the tournament.