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The India national cricket team may have entered a new era under the leadership of Shubman Gill, but Suresh Raina believes their biggest strength for the ICC World Cup 2027 will still be the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The former India batsman feels that the batting icon can play a big role in helping young captain Gill deal with tough conditions in the mega event.
Rohit and Virat Kohli are now playing only ODI cricket after retiring from Tests and T20Is, with their entire focus on ensuring a place in the ICC World Cup 2027. His experience, leadership and ability to remain calm under pressure could become one of India’s biggest advantages in the tournament. However, Anil Kumble supported Shubman Gill as captain.
Suresh Raina sees Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India’s biggest ICC World Cup 2027 weapons
Suresh Raina believes that big ICC tournaments are won not just by talent but also by experience. He believes that young players learn a lot by sharing the dressing room with veterans who have already taken charge of the biggest matches of world cricket.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have played in multiple ODI World Cups for the India national cricket team. Rohit dominated the 2019 edition as the leading run-scorer with 648 runs in just nine matches, including a record five centuries. Kohli created history in the 2023 World Cup, where he scored 765 runs, the most by any batsman in a single edition of the tournament.
Why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain irreplaceable?
So, Raina said that both Kohli and Rohit know how to deal with pressure in knockout matches as they have done it many times before and have already won ICC trophies for India. He believes that his experience will be a great support system for Shubman Gill.
Suresh Raina said on JioStar, “Physical and mental preparation will be important for Virat Kohli. He looks very strong in white-ball cricket. The same applies for Rohit Sharma. Both have proven run-scorers in the ICC World Cup.”
“Rohit topped the run charts in 2019, and Virat did the same in 2023. He has also won ICC trophies, which adds a lot of importance to his leadership and presence. He knows how to handle pressure in knockout games. He has been there, done that.”
His experience will be invaluable for India and Shubman Gill: Suresh Raina
The former left-handed batsman who won the 2012 World Cup believes that being around Rohit and Kohli can help Gill in his decision making, match awareness and handling tough moments on and off the field.
Raina further said, “Experience matters in big tournaments. The young batsmen around him will benefit from his guidance. For Shubman Gill, who is captaining India in the World Cup, having Rohit and Virat alongside him will be a big advantage. Their experience will be invaluable on and off the field. In a high-pressure tournament like the World Cup, such a presence can make a lot of difference.”
Notably, India is set to take on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in Dharamsala from June 13, followed by two matches in Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. While Rohit is expected to play in the home series, Kohli has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.