Gautam Gambhir’s recent appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team has led to speculation about the future of veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both players announced their retirements from T20 Internationals following the T20 World Cup final last month.
While BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit will captain the team in the ICC Champions Trophy and the 2025 World Test Championship, uncertainty remains about their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
During a press conference, Gambhir reassured that Rohit and Kohli are still in his plans, asserting that they have significant cricket left in them. However, former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticised Gambhir for his shifting stance on the veteran players.
Srikkanth highlighted Gambhir’s previous statements suggesting that senior players like Kohli and Rohit would be excluded if they underperformed in the T20 World Cup.
“Gautam Gambhir has reversed his position. Before the T20 World Cup 2024, he stated that if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma didn’t perform, they wouldn’t have a place in his team. Now, he’s saying that both have a lot of cricket left and might even be available for the 2027 World Cup,” noted Srikkanth.
Regarding their prospects for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Srikkanth expressed skepticism about Rohit’s chances due to age.
“Rohit is currently 37, and the next World Cup is three years away. At 40, it will be challenging for him to participate unless he maintains exceptional fitness like MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli might have a better chance given his fitness, but Rohit, Gambhir, might struggle in South Africa,” Srikkanth added.
The 2027 ODI World Cup is set to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, raising further concerns about the feasibility of older players competing in the tournament.
