Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s chances of competing in the 2027 ODI World Cup, according to former India head coach Ravi Shastri, depend on “form, fitness, and hunger,” with the forthcoming series against Australia serving as a crucial test of all three.
According to the 63-year-old, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, both of the team’s mainstays need to win a series against Australia in order to secure their spots. India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, which begins in Perth on October 19, includes Rohit and Kohli.
“That’s why they’re here (playing the ODI series against Australia),” Shastri was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au at Kayo Sport’s Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney.
“They’re part of the mix. It depends on their fitness, their hunger and, of course, form. 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,” he added.
Since the 50-over World Cup is still two years away, it is unclear if the two will fit into India’s long-term plans as they now only play ODI cricket.
By that time, Kohli will be 38 and Rohit will be 40. Shubman Gill just took Rohit’s spot as India’s ODI captain. The last time Rohit and Kohli played for India was in February of this year, when they won the Champions Trophy.
Rohit earned Player of the Match in the final, while Kohli ranked among the top five batters, consistently steering India to victory throughout the tournament.
“(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 you still have to 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,” Shastri added.
The former all-rounder for India believes that the “Men in Blue” are more effective in white-ball cricket than in red-ball cricket. “India is much stronger in white ball than the red ball. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli… they know that these youngsters are pushing them.”
Shastri highlighted Tilak Varma’s innings in the recent Asia Cup final when discussing the abundance of youthful potential India has in limited-overs cricket.
“(Varma’s) innings in that Asia Cup final was absolutely fantastic,” Shastri said.
“Because under pressure to play like that (was impressive). There’s some good young guns there in (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, there’s (Shubman) Gill, there’s Tilak Varma.”
“A lot of good young talent and lot of all-rounders as well in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel, so it’s a strong white-ball unit,” he added.
