Indian superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, according to Australian veteran Ricky Ponting, are exerting every effort to survive till the October–November 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
The former India captains are one-format players who retired from Test cricket last year. The IPL accounts for the majority of their playing time outside of 50-over cricket. Despite being hindered by a hamstring ailment, Rohit has also performed well in the IPL, while Kohli has redefined his consistency standards.
One can never write out champions like Kohli and Rohit, according to Ponting, who led Australia to two ODI World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007.
“I can see them pushing ahead and trying to get there. One thing I’ve always said about champion players is you never say no. You never write them off,” Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings in the IPL, told PTI.
“Virat’s been a good example of that again through this IPL. He’s not playing as much international cricket as he once was, but that determination and want to win is still there. Rohit Sharma has turned up at this IPL in better physical condition than I’ve seen him probably in about 10 or 12 years.”
“So the passion is still there for those guys to push on and make themselves the best players they can be. So like I said, you never say never,” added the Australian icon.
Kohli is one of the tournament’s top run scorers with 542 runs in 13 games, including a century. Rohit has been an impact player for the Mumbai Indians since recovering from a hamstring injury. He has scored 283 runs, including two half-centuries, in eight games. Rohit and Kohli have both been batting with a strike rate of more than 160.
Kohli and Rohit were picked in India’s team on Tuesday for the three-match series against Afghanistan that starts on June 14. Due to a hamstring problem, Rohit was added to the team subject to fitness.
When the ODI World Cup draws near, the Indian squad selectors will make a decision based on the players’ current form and level of fitness.
“It is too early say that they would play in the World Cup. It is still a long way off,” said a BCCI source.
