Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has a clear message for two of India’s most prominent batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, regarding their aspirations to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Both Kohli and Rohit have been named in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series in Australia. However, their recent competitive appearances were primarily in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat Kohli recently led his team to an IPL trophy on June 3rd, while Rohit Sharma’s last match for Mumbai Indians was on June 1st.
India captain Rohit Sharma alongside Virat Kohli after losing the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023 Final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Ahmedabad, India.
Gavaskar, a revered figure in Indian cricket, stressed the importance of playing the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy. “They will have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy in India whenever it’s scheduled, provided it doesn’t conflict with any international ODI tournaments. That’s a vital way to stay sharp and maintain crucial match practice,” Gavaskar stated in an interview with India Today.
By the time the 2027 World Cup arrives, Rohit Sharma will be 40 years old, and Virat Kohli will be 37. Gavaskar believes that at this stage of their careers, relying solely on a limited number of international fixtures might not be sufficient to keep them in peak form for national selection.
“Their inclusion largely depends on how many one-day matches India plays over the next couple of years,” Gavaskar elaborated. “It’s simply not enough to play just seven or eight ODIs in a season, possibly alongside a few T20s, to prepare for a major event like a World Cup. Such a sparse schedule doesn’t offer adequate exposure or practice for players nearing the twilight of their illustrious careers.”
Gavaskar also subtly questioned the timing of their availability for the upcoming Australia tour, suggesting a potential underlying motivation linked to past events.
“I’m quite sure that if this tour were to Zimbabwe or the West Indies, neither of them would have been available,” he remarked. “However, given that this is a tour to Australia, and considering India’s loss to Australia in the recent World Cup final, it’s possible this played a role in their decision to make themselves available for this particular series.”