Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is confident that experienced batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play for the national cricket team in the ODI World Cup 2027. The great batsman said that he has been in strong form in one-day cricket and his experience is a big asset for the team.
There is debate over their future, but both players have continued to perform well in recent ODI matches. Rohit Sharma earned the Player of the Series award during India’s ODI tour of Australia, while Kohli claimed the same award in India’s home ODI series against South Africa.
Uncertainty over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI World Cup future
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already retired from Test cricket and T20Is, raising questions about whether they will play in the ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa next year.
During the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026, Virat Kohli was India’s best performer while Rohit Sharma struggled for runs. Kohli scored 240 runs at an average of 80.00, including 93 in Vadodara and 124 off 108 balls in the third ODI in Indore.
However, the Shubman Gill-led team lost the series 2–1, while New Zealand won the historic series. India head coach Gautam Gambhir did not give a clear answer on the duo’s place in the World Cup squad and said that their selection will depend entirely on fitness and consistent performance.
They will definitely play – Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature in the ODI World Cup 2027. Gavaskar said that the tournament is still about a year and a half away, which will give both the players plenty of time to prepare for the match through regular practice.
“2027! It’s still about a year and a half away, so he will definitely play. Just look at how good he has been recently – why wouldn’t he? He has a lot of potential,” Gavaskar said.
He said, “Even if the ODI matches are four to six months away, they will keep practicing and will definitely play. They should definitely play, because when experience is added to the youth in the team, it benefits the team a lot. So yes, they will definitely play.”
Sunil Gavaskar is confident that Kohli and Rohit will play 2027 ODI World Cup #Sunilgavaskar #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #ODIWorldCup2027 #IndianCricket #cricketnews #TeamIndia #cricketfan #cricketupdates pic.twitter.com/LAivd1oY7F
– Sports Today (@SportsTodayofc) 5 February 2026
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli proved their worth with consistent good performances.
Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy title in 2025, while Virat Kohli cemented his place in the team. Both players showed that they still have a lot to offer in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli has scored 14,797 runs in 311 ODI matches at an excellent average of 58.72 and strike rate of 93.83. He has scored 54 centuries and 77 half-centuries in this format. This right-handed batsman is the only cricketer to score 50 centuries in ODI cricket.
Rohit Sharma has scored 11,577 runs in 282 matches at an average of 48.85 and strike rate of 92.75, which includes 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries. He has recently become the player who has hit the most number of sixes in ODI history by surpassing Shahid Afridi.
Also Read: Harshit Rana’s replacement for T20 World Cup 2026: 3 cricketers in line for selection in India
