Follow UsNot too long ago, doubts were being cast over the feasibility of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continuing to play international cricket for India following a shaky start to the ODI series in Australia. But less than a month later, Rohit and Kohli’s ‘poor form’ feels like an eternity ago as the pair have produced stunning batting performances reminiscent of their peak.
While Rohit’s last five ODI scores read 75, 14, 57, 121* & 73, Kohli’s last four scores read 65*, 102, 135 & 74*. Rohit bagged the Player of the Series award in the Australia ODIs while last night, Kohli gobbled up the POTS award for the South Africa ODI series.
On current form, the pair are still India’s best players in ODI cricket despite being in the wrong side of their thirties, but still, head coach Gautam Gambhir does not want to give any 2027 World Cup guarantees.
“They are world-class players and their experience is important in the dressing room. They’ve been doing it for a long time. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is going to be important in the 50-over format,” Gambhir said after the series win in Vizag.
“First you got to realise that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay in the present, and that young boys coming into the set-up grab their opportunities.”
Thanks to injuries to Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, India fielded two non-regulars against South Africa in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal. And both players grabbed their opportunities with both hands, smashing maiden ODI tons.
Gambhir heaped praise on the young duo for stepping up to the occasion.
“Someone like Rutu (Gaikwad) has batted out of position, but he’s a quality player. We wanted to give him an opportunity in this series, because of the kind of form he was in with India A. And he grabbed that opportunity with both hands when we were under pressure,” Gambhir said.
“Getting that kind of a 100 was proper quality. And Yashasvi as well, we’ve seen how much quality he has, especially in Test cricket. It’s just the start of his career, especially in white-ball cricket. Hopefully he has a massive future ahead and so does Rutu.”
The team India head coach further said that, in the months ahead, he will look to give Gaikwad, Jaiswal and other young players opportunities whenever possible, with the aim being building a solid young core for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“Try and give them opportunities wherever we can, because we want a reasonable group of players – probably around 20-25 – before the World Cup. So whenever we are able to give them opportunities, we’ll do that,” the head coach said.
“But once your captain and vice-captain are back, obviously they are your starters. They (Gaikwad and Jaiswal) should be ready whenever they get that opportunity."