Veteran Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been selected for the ODI series in Australia, and former Indian coach Ravi Shastri believes they need a stellar series to cement their places in the 2027 World Cup squad.
With both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma now retired from two formats of the game, Test and T20I, ODI cricket is the only format left for the Indian greats, and only ultimate success in the upcoming series can earn them a place in the 2027 World Cup.
Expectations are high regarding the Australia tour, as two of the greats of the game will play the series in overseas conditions. Moreover, the conditions may be somewhat similar to the next World Cup, which will in no way resemble the conditions in the subcontinent.
“Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will know themselves by the end of this series how they feel, and then it is their decision” – Ravi Shastri
India’s only known overseas white-ball tour so far is against Australia, while the two other series will be played on home soil against South Africa and New Zealand. The England series is still a long way off for the Indian greats to ensure a place in that team.
Therefore, even former Indian coach Ravi Shastri feels that both the batsmen are not sure for the next World Cup and both need a very successful series in Australia to boost their chances of making it to the next World Cup.
“That’s why they are here (playing the ODI series against Australia),” Shastri told reporters at Kayo Sports’ Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney on Monday, as quoted by ICC.
“They are part of the mix. It depends on their fitness, their hunger and of course the form. So, I think this series is very important to see how they progress. By the end of this series they will know themselves how they feel and then it is their decision,” he said.
“There is no substitute for experience…” – Former coach highlights importance of big boys
The World Cup is still 2 years away, and although not much can be said about the form of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, their ages, 36 and 38 respectively, are a major concern for the Indian selectors, who are looking for long-term options.
However, remembering their stellar performances in the Champions Trophy, when Virat Kohli sealed the victory for India in the semi-final against Australia and Rohit Sharma played a match-winning knock in the final against New Zealand, Shastri admitted that it is the big players who thrive in big games.
He said without hesitation, “But when it comes to big games, there is no substitute for experience, as we saw in the Champions Trophy. Big games come and big players move on.”
Virat Kohli…he knows that these youngsters are pushing him forward – Ravi Shastri hints at the exclusion of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma from ODIs
The former Indian coach praised young Indian cricketers like Tilak Verma and also supported Yashasvi Jaiswal for their stellar performances in the Asia Cup.
“(Verma’s) innings in that Asia Cup final were absolutely brilliant, because playing like that under pressure was (impressive),” Shastri told cricket.com.au on Monday.
“There are some good young players there in (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, there is (Shubman) Gill, there is Tilak Verma. There is a lot of good young talent and a lot of all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey and Axar Patel, so it is a strong white-ball unit.”
He was fearless in expressing his opinion as he claimed that India’s white-ball team is much stronger than the red-ball team and said that it is their group of talented young players who have pushed the veterans to the limits.
He concluded, “India is stronger in the white ball than the red ball. Rohit Sharma…Virat Kohli…they know these youngsters are pushing them.”
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