Ajinkya Rahane has entered the debate surrounding the ODI futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, calling for both senior batters to be backed through to the 2027 World Cup. The tournament will be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Rahane’s intervention comes as both players face intense external pressure, with sections of the cricket community urging India to invest more time in younger talent.
Rahane believes overlooking established legends like Kohli and Rohit is not the correct approach for Indian cricket. He emphasises that both players have contributed significantly to Indian cricket and won numerous matches during their careers. Both are now in their late 30s and face severe criticism whenever they fail to perform in any given match.
The experience and consistency of both players remain central to Rahane’s argument for their continued selection. Kohli’s record in ODI cricket is well documented, and Rahane stresses that such quality is difficult to replace. The challenge for Indian cricket, according to Rahane, lies in supporting these two batters rather than moving away from them prematurely.
“Both Rohit and Virat are experienced. There are no bigger batters than them in ODIs. We all know Virat’s record and the consistency with which he scores. Nobody can question that,” Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“When you have these two, you should look at supporting them, carrying them, and looking at how you can use their experience. It is easy to look at the future, but you need to look at what is in your hands at present. You will not get players like them again and it will take a lot of time,” he added.
Rohit and Kohli are set to feature in a three-match ODI series against West Indies beginning September 27. This series forms part of India’s longer preparation cycle as the team builds towards the 2027 World Cup. The upcoming matches will provide both players with an opportunity to demonstrate their continued value in the ODI format ahead of the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
