Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi renewed his dispute with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir while praising experienced batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Afridi said the two senior batsmen remain part of India’s lineup and have shown enough form to continue in the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Virat and Rohit have answered every question regarding their future with their performance. Rohit won the Player of the Series award in Australia and Kohli won the honor against South Africa on home soil. The experienced pair will next play against New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on January 11.
Virat and Rohit are the backbone of the Indian batting line-up – Shahid Afridi
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sports, Shahid Afridi said that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can continue to lead India’s batting lineup till the 2027 World Cup. Afridi said India should manage their workload smartly by resting them only in low-pressure series against weaker opponents.
Afridi said, “It is true that Virat and Rohit are the backbone of the Indian batting line-up. The way they have played in the recent ODI series, it can be said with confidence that they can play till the 2027 World Cup.”
“You need to protect these two stars. When India are playing against a weak team, they can try some new players and rest Virat and Rohit,” he said.
It proved that you are not always right – Shahid Afridi criticizes Gautam Gambhir
Shahid Afridi criticized Gautam Gambhir for his coaching style. Afridi said that Gambhir had to face reality after a successful start in the initial phase.
“The way Gautam started his tenure, it seemed like he thought what he thinks and says is right, but after some time it proved that you are not always right.”
India has had many ups and downs under Gambhir’s leadership. While the team celebrated white-ball success by winning the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, their red-ball campaign faltered with home Test series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa.
I knew that one day Rohit Sharma would play for India – Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi also talked about Rohit Sharma breaking his long-standing record of sixes in ODIs. Afridi said that he was happy to see Rohit breaking the record. Rohit went ahead of Afridi’s 351 sixes during the ODI in Raipur and took this number to 355.
Afridi recalled his first impression of Rohit from his IPL days at Deccan Chargers. He said that he always believed that Rohit would become a top-class international batsman after watching his batting in the nets during the inaugural season.
Afridi said, “Records are meant to be broken and this one has also become better now.” “I’m glad that the player I always admired has broken this record.”
“During the practice session, I watched him bat and his class impressed me. I knew that one day Rohit would play for India and he has proved himself as a class batsman,” he said.
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