Gautam Gambhir, India’s new head coach, believes veteran batsman Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can play till the 2027 ODI World Cup provided they stay fit. However, the final decision rests with the players. Kohli and Sharma, who recently retired from T20Is, will continue to play Tests and ODIs.
On Monday, July 22, newly hired head coach Gautam Gambhir urged Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to continue accomplishing great things for the senior national team, stating that the two legends will be vital players in ODIs and Tests in the future. Gambhir stated that Rohit and Kohli will be determined to give their all for the Champions Trophy and Test series in Australia, and he left the door open for them to play beyond the 2025 season.
“I believe they have demonstrated their abilities on a major platform, be it the 50-over or T20 World Cup. I can say with certainty that those two players still have a lot of cricket left in them. More importantly, they will be sufficiently motivated because the Champions Trophy and a significant trip of Australia are approaching. Before India’s visit to Sri Lanka, Gambhir addressed the media. “And then hopefully, if they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup is there,” he remarked.”This choice is highly subjective. How much cricket is left in them is beyond me. It’s ultimately up to them. The players will have to determine how big of a contribution they can make to the team’s success. In the end, what matters is the team. Given their combined skill set, Virat and Rohit appear to have a lot of cricket. They remain top-tier even now. For as long as feasible, any team would want both of them,” he continued.
The T20 World Cup in Barbados last month saw the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Twenty20 international cricket. The ODI and Test lineups will still include both players.
Along with emphasizing that Rohit and Kohli will play the majority of India’s crucial ODI and Test matches going forward, Gambhir also noted that by playing only two formats at the highest level, they are better able to manage their workload. At the ODI World Cup in 2027, Rohit, who is currently 37, will be 41, and Kohli, who is 38, will be 38.
Rohit Sharma will continue to lead India in the ODIs and Tests, while Suryakumar Yadav was selected captain of the Twenty20 internationals last week.
The T20 World Cup in Barbados last month saw the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Twenty20 international cricket. The ODI and Test lineups will still include both players.
Along with emphasizing that Rohit and Kohli will play the majority of India’s crucial ODI and Test matches going forward, Gambhir also noted that by playing only two formats at the highest level, they are better able to manage their workload. At the ODI World Cup in 2027, Rohit, who is currently 37, will be 41, and Kohli, who is 38, will be 38.
Rohit Sharma will continue to lead India in the ODIs and Tests, while Suryakumar Yadav was selected captain of the Twenty20 internationals last week.
