Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is confident that veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play for the national cricket team in the ODI World Cup 2027. The legendary batter stated that they have been in strong form in one-day cricket and that their experience remains a major asset for the team.
There has been debate about their future, but both players have continued to deliver strong performances 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, which has raised questions about whether they will feature in the ODI World Cup scheduled 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 at Indore.
However, the Shubman Gill-led team lost the series 2-1, with New Zealand pulling off a historic series win. India head coach Gautam Gambhir did not give a clear answer on the duo’s place in the World Cup squad, saying their selection will depend entirely on fitness and continued performance.
They Will Definitely Play – Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar stated that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature in the ODI World Cup 2027. Gavaskar added that the tournament is still around a year and a half away, giving both players plenty of time to stay match-ready through regular practice.
“2027! It’s still about a year and a half away, so they will definitely play. Just look at how good their performances have been recently – why wouldn’t they play? They have so much ability,” Gavaskar said.
“Even if the One-Day matches are four to six months away, they will keep practising and will definitely play. They absolutely should play, because when experience combines with youth in a team, it benefits the team greatly. So yes, they will definitely play,” he added.
Sunil Gavaskar Confident Kohli & Rohit Will Play 2027 ODI World Cup #SunilGavaskar #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #ODIWorldCup2027 #IndianCricket #CricketNews #TeamIndia #CricketFans #CricketUpdates pic.twitter.com/LAivd1oY7F
— Sports Today (@SportsTodayofc) February 5, 2026
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Prove Their Value With Consistent Performances
Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy title in 2025, while Virat Kohli further cemented his place in the side. Both players showed that they still have plenty to offer in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli has scored 14,797 runs in 311 ODIs at an outstanding average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 93.83. He has smashed 54 centuries and 77 half-centuries in the format. The right-handed batter is the only cricketer to score 50 centuries in ODI cricket.
Rohit Sharma has featured in 282 matches, scoring 11,577 runs at an average of 48.85 and a strike rate of 92.75, including 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries. He recently became the leading six-hitter in ODI history, surpassing Shahid Afridi.
Also read: Harshit Rana replacement for T20 World Cup 2026: 3 cricketers in line for India selection
