Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should have kept Rohit Sharma as ODI captain till the ICC World Cup 2027 in Africa. Kaif said that the Indian cricket board should have waited for the next World Cup before introducing a transition period.
There is speculation about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with the debate going on whether they should continue playing for the team till the World Cup. The pair are set to make a comeback to international cricket during the upcoming three-match series starting in Australia from October 19.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are ready to return to international cricket
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not played international cricket since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Both have impressive records in the 50-over format in Australia, with Rohit scoring 1,328 runs in 30 ODIs and Kohli scoring 1,327 runs in 29 matches.
Notably, Rohit and Virat were India’s top scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil with 597 and 765 runs respectively. He also played a key role in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy victory, where the team won all five matches.
The three-match ODI series begins at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, followed by matches at the Adelaide Oval on October 23 and the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. After the ODI series, both teams will focus on the five-match T20I series.
I wanted Rohit Sharma to continue leading the team – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif said that Rohit and Virat should play with the team till the World Cup. Kaif said Rohit led India to the finals of three ICC competitions in three years, winning two of them, and said age should not overshadow performance.
“I would have requested him not to leave because he has achieved a lot for the country. Rohit took us to the finals of three ICC competitions and won two of them in three years. I am a big fan of his and I wanted him to keep leading the team. People often cite his age, but I focus on the stats,” Kaif told News18 India.
Rohit Sharma is ticking all the boxes – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif emphasized that Rohit Sharma has the ability to score runs and create a positive environment in the team. He said that his leadership can still lead India to another title during the 2027 World Cup.
Kaif further added, “As a captain, he is scoring runs, creating a healthy team environment. So, even if he turns 41 during the 2027 World Cup, I will keep an eye on his ability to lead the team to another title win. So, why move on when he is meeting all the criteria? Do it after the 2027 World Cup.”
“So, if I can, I would keep proper communication with both of them, even go to their house if needed and talk to them. They have a similar aura,” he concluded.
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