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The India national cricket team is currently in England and is facing the England national cricket team for a five-match T20 series, the last match of which will be played on Saturday. The next three-match ODI series is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have started their preparations for the upcoming series.
Both the cricket legends have been consistent match winners for the Blue team over the years. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play only the 50-over format after their retirement from T20I and Test cricket. However, his hunger to score runs in this format has never diminished as he keeps scoring runs to his name and winning matches for India.
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in ODI World Cup 2027?
The most talked about question before the ODI series is whether Virat and Rohit will participate in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027, which is scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This question also arises due to his age, fitness and injury concerns.
Although India are set to play around 25 ODIs before the tournament, their performance in the last few ODIs has surprised everyone. Furthermore, head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar have not made any commitments, leaving options open on their participation in the World Cup.
“They are performing even today”- Munaf Patel on the performance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Now, ahead of the England series, Munaf Patel, the 2011 ODI World Cup winner with India, has shared his views on Virat Kohli and Rohit’s participation in the premier ICC tournament in 2027. He has asked the management not to treat Virat and Rohit the way they have treated other cricketers.
“The format they are still playing in, you can’t remove them. Remember that. Those are the main guys for you, and such big legends, because they are still performing today and proving so don’t do to others what you did to them. You have let a lot of guys go and sent them home.”
Patel said during a conversation with senior sports journalist Vimal Kumar, “Let them go as per their pleasure and take the trophy. After winning the trophy, they will go on their own. They also know that they will not play the next World Cup, no matter how fit they are.”
“Can’t win the World Cup without them”- Munaf Patel gives honest verdict on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Munaf Patel further emphasized on this and said that India will not be able to win the upcoming ICC tournament without the RO-KO pair and if they have to win this tournament then they need to have Virat and Rohit in the 15-man list.
“You can’t win the World Cup without him. If you want to win the 2027 World Cup, it can’t happen without him. Look at his records in the last ten years. 55 centuries in the same format. Rohit has 33-34 centuries to his name. Honestly, bowlers are scared of bowling. Even today people have this misconception that Rohit and Virat are finished.”
“Talent can never be exhausted. These are talented people. How will you win without them? The rest are still getting ready. There is no one to replace them today. Only eight months are left until 2027. How much time is left?” He commented.
