Regarding the next ODI World Cup in 2027, it is unclear if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be available.
The selection of senior batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as head coach of the Indian squad has cast question on Gautam Gambhir’s future. Following the T20 World Cup final last month, Virat and Rohit both declared their retirements from Twenty20 cricket. It is unclear if Rohit and Virat will be available for the upcoming ODI World Cup, which is set to take place in 2027, despite the fact that BCCI Secretary Jay Shah promised that Rohit will captain the team during the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2025.
In addition, Gambhir reiterated during a press conference that he still has plenty of cricket left in him and that both Rohit and Kohli are part of his plans.
Former Indian Krishnamachari Srikkanth has brought attention to Gambhir’s previous suggestion that if senior players don’t perform well in the T20 World Cup, they won’t be allowed to stay in his team.
“Gautam Gambhir has changed his mind. He said before to the 2024 T20 World Cup that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would not be allowed to play for him. Then, doing a U-turn, he declared that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the best players in the world.
Regarding the two players’ potential participation in the ODI World Cup, Srikkanth expressed his opinion that Rohit would find it challenging to play after the age of forty, despite the fact that Kohli may make an appearance given his strict fitness requirements.
“He is a talented player, but the next ODI World Cup is three years away, and he is already 37 years old. By then, he will be forty years old. You can’t play World Cup cricket in your 40s unless you’re a very fit person like MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar. Yes, in my view, Virat Kohli might participate in the 2027 World Cup. However, you went too far for Rohit, Mr. Gambhir; he will pass out in South Africa “…
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be held in Africa as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the tournament.
