Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Urged to Play 2027 ODI World Cup Despite Concerns Over Age and Fitness

There's speculation that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might play for India 'A' against Australia 'A' in a three-match ODI series in late September.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Urged to Play 2027 ODI World Cup Despite Concerns Over Age and Fitness

Suresh Raina backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue playing ODI cricket, until the 2027 World Cup. (via India Today)

Ex-India cricketer and 2011 World Cup-winning star Suresh Raina opined that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should continue playing for the Men in Blue, until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Raina pointed to the experience that the two players have, for a big tournament like the Cricket World Cup. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future remains uncertain, with the iconic duo having already retired from two of the three formats in international cricket. They retired from T20Is last year, following India’s T20 World Cup final triumph against South Africa. Ahead of India’s five-match red-ball tour to England in June this year, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also announced an end to their respective Test careers.

The duo now only remain active in ODIs, with Sharma continuing to captain the 50-over side. Both Sharma and Kohli are nearing the twilight of their careers, and with younger players being groomed for transition, many have suggested that the two veterans should also call time on their ODI career, thereafter retiring from all formats of the game. Certain reports also hint that the duo might be let off, before the 2027 ODI World Cup. 

It is being speculated that the BCCI has urged Sharma and Kohli to retire, after India’s white-ball tour to Australia this year. By the time of the 2027 World Cup, Sharma will be 40 and Kohli will almost be 39, raising questions about whether they will be at their physical and mental peak to compete at the highest level. However, many former players, including ex-India all-rounder Suresh Raina, have backed their continued participation.

The 38-year-old suggested that since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were part of the winning squads for the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, they possess the necessary experience for ICC tournaments, making them valuable additions to the team at the 2027 WC.

Raina had also previously stated that their presence in the dressing room is important for mentoring younger players, including future captain Shubman Gill. He said on Subhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel:

Rohit [Sharma] and [Virat] Kohli should play the 2027 ODI World Cup because they have won the T20 WC and the Champions Trophy, both Rohit and Virat have so much experience.

Nonetheless, the speculation continues, with the BCCI also having reportedly informed the two Indian batting stalwarts about the need to play domestic cricket for their continued involvement in the Indian ODI setup. Rohit Sharma has earlier begun training under ex-India batting coach Abhishek Nayar, while Kohli was seen practicing in indoor nets at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill Reportedly Undergoing Fitness Tests at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence

Indian Test captain Shubman Gill and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, along with other key players, are reportedly undergoing fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. This comes ahead of a busy cricketing season, with Gill set to travel to the UAE for the 2025 Asia Cup.

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill CoE
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are reportedly undergoing fitness tests at the BCCI CoE. (via Hindustan Times)

Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj have already arrived at the BCCI’s CoE, and are currently undergoing fitness assessments including Bronco and Yo-Yo Tests. Both players are not a part of the 2025 Asia Cup squads, but are getting ready for the white-ball series against Australia, in October.

Test captain Shubman Gill, on the other hand, has also joined the pre-season camp, awaiting clearance by the BCCI for his participation in the Asia Cup. The 25-year-old, who has seen his stakes rise over the past few months, missed out on playing in the ongoing Duleep Trophy for North Zone, due to a flu. Following the fitness tests, he is expected to join the team to fly to Dubai. 

Apart from them, several other players have also been asked to join the pre-season camp at the BCCI’s CoE in Bengaluru. The list includes ace Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who will make his return to the T20I squad after a year-long absence, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shardul Thakur. 

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