As Indian management continues to prepare a powerful squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup next year, the doubts over the presence of legendary duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue to linger. It remains unclear whether they will be part of the squad when the tournament is played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, sharing his thoughts on the duo's availability, believed that if the management wants them at the World Cup then they both will be kept on the park otherwise they will gradually be sidelined. By the time, the global event begins in October-November 2027, Kohli will be nearing 39 years of age, and Rohit will have crossed the 40-year mark.
“In my experience of how these things pan out, it is pretty straightforward: if the management wants both of them at the 50-over World Cup in South Africa and if there is enough energy around it, it is very much possible to keep them on the park and utilise their experience," Ashwin said on ESPNCricinfo.
“But if there’s a thinking that it might steer the other way, the players will be under duress. And forgive me, I am no specialist, I am no medico scientist, I cannot say this with utmost authority, [but if] there is a proper rehab programme and there is something that is constructed around what they want to do and if there are good vibes from the other half, the players will manage to make it," Ashwin said.
Notably, both Kohli and Rohit have already stepped away from other international formats. Following India's T20 World Cup win in 2024, both announced their retirement from T20Is. A year later, they also bid farewell to Test cricket, keeping their presence limited to only ODIs.