The ODI World Cup is less than 14 months away. There is still doubt about the availability of the likes of and . One man who has come out in support of ‘Hitman’ is former India batter , who retired from the game on July 30. According to the 38-year-old, Rohit should play in the World Cup, or, at the very least, get some clarity from the BCCI about his ODI future.
International Farewell Loading?
One must remember that Rohit has quit Tests and T20Is, so an ODI retirement will mean an international farewell. He is 39 and has been playing for 19 years. Should he play in the World Cup, he shall be 40 and a 20-year veteran.
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Ajinkya Rahane Wants Clarity
“I think it is important to tell Rohit Sharma he is going to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Just look at his contribution over several years. It has been amazing. You need the experience of such a player at the World Cup. There should be no discussions around it. You can’t look at it series by series because he is such a big player,” he said as per India Today.
“We should let them play freely. Everyone gets to that stage in their careers, but seniors also like it when the captain and the team management back them. Let them just play till the 2027 World Cup,” he added while making a case for Kohli as well.
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“Cricket is a game of rhythm, whether you are a youngster or an experienced player. There is no need to talk about his quality. There should be no debate. If he wants to play the 2027 World Cup, he should play,” he went on to say while talking about Rohit.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohi’s Silverware
Kohli will turn 38 and has been playing for 18 years. If Kohli plays the 2027 World Cup, he shall turn 39 during the tournament and be in international cricket for 19 years. The dream farewell for ‘King’ and ‘Hitman’ would be to win the World Cup. Rohit has won two T20 World Cups and two Champions Trophies while Kohli has won one T20 World Cup, one ODI World Cup and two Champions Trophies. Neither of them has won the World Test Championship Final. That won’t happen either as they both have left Tests and T20Is. The ODI World Cup is still on the cards. It remains to be seen if the legends are there for the mega event.