Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has shared his views on the ongoing debate over the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket as they aim to end their illustrious careers at the ICC World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Ian Bishop has boldly claimed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ICC World Cup 2027 hopes will depend entirely on their hunger, form and fitness in the coming years, as both the stars are now in the latter stages of their careers.
Ian Bishop ponders over the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Rohit and Kohli are set to return to international action with the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, having last played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year.
His return has generated huge excitement, but questions remain as to whether he can remain fit and motivated for the next full World Cup cycle.
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By 2027, Rohit Sharma will be 40 and Virat Kohli will be 39, and at this age, very few cricketers maintain peak performance, but both the Indian stars continue to show exceptional fitness levels.
“It’s their decision. I can’t answer that for Rohit or Virat or the BCCI. It depends on what their determination and skills are like. They have been fine so far,” PTI quoted Ian Bishop as saying.
Ian Bishop backs Shubman Gill’s development as captain under the guidance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Meanwhile, the West Indies great also praised Shubman Gill’s calmness and ability to handle pressure, but made it clear that Gill still has a lot to learn before he can become a complete leader.
The broadcaster believes that the presence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be crucial in shaping Gill’s development as both a captain and a batsman.
He believes that the two senior professionals will play a big role in guiding the youth through their initial challenges and helping them develop strategic awareness and leadership maturity over time.
Bishop added, “He’ll be fine. Those two guys will help him along the way. He’ll grow in the job. He’s nowhere near the finished article. People have to give him a chance to develop as a captain, and as a batsman, he’ll grow too.”
“He has the temperament and skills to lead, but the growth in captaincy and tactics is something that will take a few seasons to develop. I’m sure he will get help from the two veterans.”
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Ian Bishop praises early signs of progress in West Indies
Reflecting on the recent two-match Test series, Bishop praised India’s complete dominance but also found some positives for the struggling West Indies team.
He was pleased to see his batsmen spending more time at the crease and showing better discipline, with the likes of Shai Hope, John Campbell and Justin Greaves putting in encouraging batting performances.
Spinner Jomel Warrican also performed impressively against India and Bishop felt that these small gains could prove to be a milestone for West Indies cricket. He said he still has a long way to go, but he has finally shown the improvement he needed for a fresh start.
Bishop signed off by saying, “From a West Indies perspective, it was great to see some of the batsmen spend time at the crease. The confidence they showed on the pitch was excellent. It’s not that they have arrived, but they have put some building blocks in place.”