There has been huge speculation around the future of Indian cricket’s senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who now feature only in ODIs for India. There have been questions about how long they will continue, especially with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. Weighing in on the discussion, former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided a very measured view, citing his own experience of how he himself approached the latter stages of his career
Rohit and Kohli remain two of the most experienced and decorated cricketers India have ever produced. According to Dhoni, age should not be a factor. His response cut through the noise as he underlined that such decisions are shaped by form and motivation closer to the event.
"For me, age is not a criterion; performance and fitness are criteria. I always feel nobody should be told anything. But things should be clear that everyone will be treated the same way," Dhoni said at an event.
"When I made my debut I was 24; nobody came and told me anything, so now when I am playing for India for 10 years, 20 years or whatever, nobody needs to come and tell me about my age. Is age a factor? No. Is fitness a factor? Yes," Dhoni said.
Dhoni also asserted the importance of experience and fitness in big tournaments.
“Even if you’re 22 and you’re not fit, then you have to be bit (because) there are criteria to play international cricket. Whether it’s Rohit or whether it’s Virat, there will be other names that will come forward in five years. The whole thing is, just because somebody is in their 30s, whether they can or cannot play the next World Cup, it’s not for us to decide. It’s for them to decide. If they keep performing, if they have to urge to do well for the country, then why not?” Dhoni said.
“How do you get experienced people? You can’t get a 20-year-old who is experienced, unless it’s Sachin Tendulkar. You can only get experience if you start playing at 16-17. And international cricket is very different. So now if you want experience, you need people who are 30, 32, 33. If you’re calling 20-25 games as experience, then you are not experienced. If people are performing, they’ll be there. If they’re not performing, they won’t,” added MS Dhoni.
“I feel the right combination of experience and youthfulness is very important. But not at the cost of fitness. If you want to compete at the top level, you have to be fit. And now if you are 35 and fit, then 35 doesn’t matter. Performance matters even for the 24-year-old and the 35-year-old. So, where’s the question of anybody questioning anyone? Treat everyone equally," he maintained.