Follow UsFormer India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri has cast uncertainty over the 2027 ODI World Cup futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, and by then, Kohli will be 39 and Rohit 40.
Both stalwarts have not played competitive cricket since IPL 2025, with their last international appearances coming during the Champions Trophy (February-March). While they have been picked for India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19, a significant shift has already taken place - Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit as ODI captain, signalling that the management may be planning a transition.
"That's why they're here (playing the ODI series against Australia). They're part of the mix. It depends on their fitness, their hunger, and, of course, form," Shastri told reporters at Kayo Sport's Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney, as reported by the Times of India.
"So, I think this series is very important to see how they go. They themselves will know by the end of this series how they feel, and then it's their call. (It's) the same thing with Steve Smith (who retired from ODIs in March) from Australia's point of view. At that age, you've got to enjoy it and still have the hunger.
“But there's no substitute for experience when it comes to the big games, as we saw in the Champions Trophy. Come the big games, and the big boys step up."
Age hasn’t diminished their batting output in recent years. In ODIs since 2023, Rohit has scored 1714 runs in 37 innings at an average of 48.97 and a strike rate of 117.2. Kohli, during the same period, has amassed 1710 runs in 34 innings at an average of 61.07 and a strike rate of 95.8.
Shastri also highlighted the rise of youngsters who could push for spots ahead of the next World Cup, singling out Tilak Varma - one of India’s standout T20I performers and a match-winner in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan.
"(Tilak Varma's) innings in that Asia Cup final was absolutely fantastic. Because under pressure, to play like that was impressive. There are some good young guns there in Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma,” Shastri told cricket.com.au.
"A lot of good young talent and a lot of allrounders as well in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel, so it's a strong white-ball unit. India is much stronger in white-ball than red-ball cricket. Rohit Sharma … Virat Kohli … they know that these youngsters are pushing them."