Former England spinner Monty Panesar has made a striking prediction about Virat Kohli’s one-day international future, suggesting the 37-year-old batter will continue playing beyond the 2027 ODI World Cup despite Kohli’s own statements about that tournament being his last.
Speaking in Dubai on October 6, Panesar praised Kohli’s commitment to the sport after the Indian batter reached the milestone of 15,000 ODI runs. Panesar highlighted Kohli’s hunger, intensity, and dedication to fitness as defining qualities that set him apart from other players.
“Virat Kohli is still very hungry. He plays with tremendous intensity, pays great attention to his fitness and motivates everyone around him. I also get motivated to go to the gym when I see Virat training. He was saying that this could be his last World Cup, but perhaps that is part of his mindset,” Panesar was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
“When you think you have only 10-15 games left, you approach every game with full intensity, treating each one like an event. Virat comes in with that mindset, giving his best on every ball and in every moment. With this kind of intensity, I don’t think he will retire after the World Cup. I believe he still has a lot of cricket left in him,” he added.
Panesar’s backing for Rohit Sharma’s World Cup selection
Panesar also extended his support to Rohit Sharma‘s inclusion in India’s World Cup squad. He described Sharma as a player capable of making a significant impact for India through his aggressive batting approach and clear tactical mindset. The former spinner believes Sharma deserves the opportunity to earn his place in the squad based on his quality and potential to deliver for the team.
When will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play next in ODIs?
“Rohit Sharma is also a great player. When he gets going, he can be absolutely destructive with the bat. He is an attacking batter, hits the ball a long way and plays with a clear mindset. He can make a real difference for India, and I believe the team needs a player of Rohit’s quality. He deserves to be given the opportunity to earn his place in the World Cup squad,” Panesar concluded.
