The 2027 ODI World Cup will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, approximately 13 months away. When the tournament begins, Rohit Sharma will be 40 years old, and Virat Kohli will be 39. The question of whether the two senior India batters will feature in the squad has generated considerable debate within Indian cricket circles.
Ashish Nehra, the former India pacer, shared his perspective on the selection dilemma. Nehra acknowledged the complexity of making decisions about players of Rohit and Kohli’s stature, particularly given the involvement of multiple stakeholders in the selection process.
The former pacer highlighted the structural challenges that coaches and captains face when dealing with senior players of this calibre. Selection decisions at the BCCI level involve multiple stakeholders, and Nehra pointed out that no single person can make such calls unilaterally.
“It’s too far, like 12-13 months. We’ve seen, not only in Indian cricket but in any sport, that even in 2-3 weeks, things change. If they are doing well, if they are performing, why not?” Nehra said during the CAB annual awards ceremony in Kolkata on Monday.
“It’s not going to be easy for any coach or any captain when it comes to these players. If I was the coach, would it be my call alone? That doesn’t work with the BCCI, there are five selectors. There are too many decision-makers,” Ashish said.
Nehra emphasised that predicting outcomes 13 months in advance remains extremely difficult, especially for players whose experience and fitness levels defy conventional age-related assumptions. He stressed the unpredictability of form and fitness over such an extended period.
“We all know, we don’t need to discuss what they have done in the past. For 13 months, a long time, it is very difficult to say right now that Rohit or Virat will be there. I mean, for those guys, age is no number,” Ashish said.
The selection landscape across formats further complicates matters, with players moving in and out of squads based on performance and team requirements. Nehra cited the example of Shubman Gill, whose presence varies across different formats despite his recent success.
“I’m saying no to any certainty. Yes, we talk about Shubman Gill, we talk about Jasprit Bumrah, but the same Gill is not in the T20 squad. It is difficult to say. It is too early for me,” Nehra said.
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Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, had expressed hope in January 2025 that Rohit and Kohli could play in the 2027 World Cup if they remained fit. Recent reports have suggested that Kohli’s ODI position appears secure due to his strong form over the past year, while the selection committee has reportedly considered alternative options at the opening position. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed speculation about Rohit’s potential retirement following India’s ODI series against England.
