Sandeep Patil, the 70-year-old former India coach, has expressed confidence in India’s ability to manage without either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Patil’s assessment centres on the depth available within the Indian squad and the selectors’ capacity to plan ahead for potential transitions among senior players.
Rohit and Kohli have been central to India’s white-ball cricket since stepping away from T20 International and Test formats. Rohit has accumulated 11,895 runs across 288 ODIs at an average of 48.95, with 34 centuries and 62 fifties. Kohli has amassed 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs at an average of 58.59, including 54 centuries and 79 fifties. Both players last featured in a three-match ODI series against England in July 2026, where Rohit scored 175 runs including a century and Kohli accumulated 144 runs with two half-centuries, though India lost the series 2-1.
“It is up to these two players. Will they want to continue playing? Will they be able to maintain their fitness? What is the selectors’ strategy?” Patil said in an interaction with SportsNext.
“Are the selectors looking ahead? Along with the current players, we always have to consider whether we have someone strong enough to replace them if the time comes for them to be left out of the team. And considering the Indian team’s bench strength, which I just spoke about, I don’t think there will be any problems, whether Virat or Rohit are in the team or not,” he added.
Patil’s assessment of India’s World Cup readiness
Patil outlined the factors that will determine whether the two veterans continue in the format. He explained that the decision rests on the players’ willingness to extend their careers, their ability to maintain fitness standards, and the selectors’ forward-thinking approach to team construction. According to Patil, the Indian team possesses sufficient bench strength to absorb the absence of either batter without facing major difficulties.
Tribute to the two senior batters
Patil paid tribute to the stature and contribution of both players. He acknowledged their long presence in international cricket and their status as future legends of the game. Rohit’s record in white-ball cricket drew particular praise from Patil, while he noted that Kohli’s achievements speak for themselves and require little elaboration. The former coach’s remarks reflect recognition of their impact on Indian cricket while emphasising that the team’s depth provides options for the future.
“These two players have been around for many years and will be regarded as legends. Rohit Sharma has been a remarkable player in white-ball cricket. As far as Virat is concerned, the more I say about him, the less it will be,” Patil said.
India’s next ODI assignment was a three-match series against West Indies, with matches scheduled for September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, September 30 in Guwahati and October 3 in Mullanpur. These fixtures provided further opportunity to assess the squad’s form and depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
