Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has passionately urged the BCCI selection committee to unequivocally support star cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, dismissing any uncertainty surrounding their roles in future ODI cricket. His strong statements come on the heels of both players’ successful return in the recent ODI series against Australia, where Rohit shone as Player of the Series and Kohli rediscovered his touch with a crucial half-century after initial struggles.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)
For the past year and a half, both Rohit and Kohli have narrowed their international focus primarily to One Day Internationals, opting out of Test and T20I formats. Despite concerns about their age, their recent on-field brilliance has solidified their indispensable value to the Indian squad. Interestingly, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had previously hinted that the star duo might not be fully committed to the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, a sentiment Srikkanth now fiercely challenges.
Srikkanth, a former head of India’s selection panel, passionately championed the pair, asserting that age is merely a number when considering their contributions to the team. ‘Rohit and Kohli are ready for 2027!’ Srikkanth exclaimed on his YouTube channel. ‘In my firm opinion, Rohit must play the 2027 World Cup. Let’s abandon all this talk about age – ‘he’s touching 40, brushing 40, reaching 40.’ Enough of it! He’s incredibly fit, playing brilliantly, and taking those crucial slip catches flawlessly. What more could anyone ask for? He’s consistently scoring runs. His performance in Sydney was effortless, reminiscent of his dominant form in the 2019 World Cup. He wasn’t even pushing his limits, just smoothly cruising in third and fourth gear!’
He further lauded Kohli’s unparalleled fitness and dedication. ‘As for Virat Kohli, he possesses the fitness to play until he’s 45. He’s genuinely as fit as a 25-year-old!’ Srikkanth added.
Srikkanth also made an impassioned plea for the selectors to engage in transparent and direct communication with these seasoned players, rather than leaving them in a state of ambiguity. ‘Don’t create unease or fear among them. Just let them focus,’ he stressed. ‘The selectors need to convey to them that they are vital to the team’s plans. Tell them to prioritize their fitness. Say, ‘We will build the team around you. You both are incredibly important. Please make sure you are fit enough.’ This, Srikkanth believes, is the crucial mindset and communication strategy needed for the betterment of both Team India and these individual players.’
Drawing from his own experience as a former chief selector, Srikkanth declared that if he held that position today, he wouldn’t hesitate to immediately assure Rohit and Kohli of their long-term roles. ‘If I were the chairman of the selection committee, I would approach them today and simply say, ‘Stay fit for the 2027 World Cup, and bring us that trophy!” he affirmed.
Ultimately, Srikkanth’s message is unequivocal: proven experience and consistent performance are paramount, and both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are absolutely essential to India’s quest for the next ODI World Cup trophy.