Former spinner Amit Mishra supported the inclusion of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 2027 ODI World Cup, claiming that no one on the side is more capable of withstanding pressure than the two.
“They should be in the team. They have performed well for so many years. Wins and runs could go up and down a bit through the bilateral series cycle, but in big tournaments, you will need these big players,” a ANI report quoted Mishra as saying.
“They know how to handle pressure; they can apply pressure to other teams as well. Nobody can handle pressure as well as they can, and nobody is better suited to teach the same to youngsters.”
Since announcing their Test retirements in May of this year, Rohit and Kohli have not been receiving enough playing time in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), a format that no longer dominates the cricket schedule.
Even though they have performed well in ODIs all year, concerns have frequently been raised about whether their aging bodies will be affected by the lack of playing time and whether their reflexes will deteriorate as they get older before the major tournament. Both men are currently in their late 30s.
Rohit will be in his 40s and Kohli will be in his late 30s when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia co-host the ODI World Cup in 2027.
Rohit and Kohli’s presence will benefit the young players and they may also mentor captain Shubman Gill, according to Mishra, who claimed 156 wickets for India in 68 international matches.
“They will explain and guide youngsters and the captain about various things. They will make other players play. Even if they do not perform, their presence in the team during the tournament would be impactful. But I would say this: one should not be a senior just because of their name; they should also perform. I am not saying they will score centuries in every match, but the impact should continue to be consistent. When such players are in the team, there is always pressure on the other team, as they will know that these two can change things easily,” he added.
In the ODIs this year, Rohit and Kohli finished as India’s leading run scorers. While Rohit scored 650 runs in 14 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of over 100, with two hundreds and four fifties, Kohli tallied 651 runs in 13 matches and innings at an average of 65.10.
Kohli had stated that “he has never been a big believer in a lot of preparation” and that “all his cricket has been mental” after his outstanding 120-ball 135 in the first ODI against South Africa.
Mishra stated that playing domestic cricket would only benefit these two seasoned players when asked if they should be permitted to trust their own method or play domestic cricket.
“The more you play, the better your body is and the more mentally stronger you are. If there are four matches in the league stages, they can play two and take a rest. If there are three, they can play and then rest. But they must play since they just play one format. Even when I was not playing regularly, I was told to play one or two domestic matches. It is important that your rhythm does not get spoiled and that your body is in the right condition. You will also get the right amount of match practice,” he added.
