Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, warning BCCI against creating doubts about their future.
Former India captain and ex-BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has sent a strong message to the national selectors, urging them not to instil fear in senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regarding their future in ODI cricket.
Both stalwarts made impressive returns in the recent ODI series against Australia, where Rohit was named Player of the Series and Kohli ended the campaign with a crucial half-century after two ducks in the opening matches.
Rohit and Virat Kohli have already stepped away from Tests and T20Is over the past 18 months, focusing solely on the 50-over format. Their consistent performances have silenced critics questioning their roles in India’s 2027 World Cup plans. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had hinted before the series that the duo was not yet committed to the tournament, sparking debate over their long-term future.
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‘Ro-Ko set for 2027’
Backing the senior duo, Srikkanth said both players remain key assets for Indian cricket, citing their form, fitness, and unmatched experience. He dismissed any concern about age being a limiting factor.
“Ro-Ko set for 2027. Rohit, in my opinion, has to surely play the 2027 World Cup. Don’t bring the age factor. Don’t say ‘he is touching 40, brushing 40, reaching 40’. Stop all these. He is fit, he is playing well, taking slip catches cleanly. What else do you want? He is scoring in every match. He played effortlessly in Sydney. It felt similar to the way he played in the 2019 World Cup. Yes, he didn’t go to the sixth, gear and seventh gear. He was going in third and fourth gear,” Srikkanth said.
He further added that Kohli’s fitness makes him capable of playing at the highest level for many more years.
“Virat Kohli, on the other hand, can play until 45, given his fitness. He is as fit as a 25-year-old,” he said. The 1983 World Cup winner also urged the BCCI to maintain clear communication with both players instead of creating uncertainty around their future. “Tell Kohli, Rohit that they are important to the team”
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“Don’t spook them. Don’t instil fear. Leave them alone. I think you have to tell them that they are important for the team. Tell them to look after themselves. ‘We will form the team around you. You two are very important. Please make sure you are fit enough’. I think this should be the thought process and communication. If they do it this way, it will be good for Team India and the two players,” he said.
Having previously served as chief selector, Srikkanth stated that if he were still in charge, he would have already secured their place in India’s 2027 World Cup plans.
“If I was the chairman of the selection committee, today itself I will go to them and say, ‘Just be fit for the 2027 World Cup and win us the trophy’,” he added.
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