Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about the inclusion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027. Gambhir stated that the tournament is still over two years away and hoped that the veteran batters and the team have a successful upcoming series against Australia.
Virat and Rohit have already retired from Test cricket and T20Is. They will continue to represent the national cricket team only in ODIs. However, as the two veterans near the twilight of their careers, speculation surrounding their future in international cricket has grown increasingly intense in recent months.
Gautam Gambhir Opens Up on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Future
After the second Test against the West Indies, Gautam Gambhir was asked about the inclusion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the World Cup. He stated that the tournament is still more than two years away and added that the focus is on the present.
“Look, ODI World Cup is still about two and a half years away and I think it is very important to stay in the present,” Gautam Gambhir stated.
“Obviously, there are quality players coming back and their experience is going to be handful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful tour,” he added.
India Players, Gautam Gambhir, and Support Staff to Depart for Australia on October 15
India are scheduled to leave for Australia from Delhi on Wednesday, October 15, with all players expected to arrive in the capital a day prior. Virat Kohli, who has been residing in London since the end of the 2025 IPL, was spotted arriving in Delhi on Tuesday.
Alongside Kohli, Rohit Sharma will also return to the Indian team. However, Rohit has been relieved of his captaincy duties in the ODI format. Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new ODI captain as part of long-term planning for the team.
Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who played a pivotal role in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy triumph, has been named vice-captain. India are focusing on continuity and long-term planning ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Active Only in ODI Format
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are active only in the ODI format for India. Questions have arisen about their form and fitness, which will determine whether they can fit into India’s long-term plans.
Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 38 when the next World Cup is played in Africa. The duo last represented India during the victorious Champions Trophy campaign in February 2025. Rohit earned the Player of the Match award in the final, while Kohli finished as India’s second-highest run-scorer.
Fans, former players, and cricket experts have debated the future of Rohit and Kohli in India’s ODI setup. The BCCI is grooming Shubman Gill to lead India into the next ODI World Cup, while Rohit and Kohli’s roles will likely be evaluated based on form, fitness, and their strategic fit within the squad.