Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has advised two veteran Indian batters – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – to play for India A in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said that since India are not scheduled to play many ODIs before the World Cup, it becomes imperative for the former captains to make the most of the opportunities available.
“The India A series is currently underway. You know there aren’t many ODI matches before the 2027 Cricket World Cup. So, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be asked to play the series,” said Ashwin. “They should be told, ‘If you don’t play this series, then you don’t fit into the plan. If you’re not part of this series, you need to go and play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that’s another platform where we can assess your form.”
Both Kohli and Rohit have retired from Test cricket and T20Is, and are currently active in only one format – ODIs. Many experts believe that they must perform consistently and compete with younger players to secure their spots in the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Ashwin also suggested that both players might need to participate in domestic matches to remain in contention for ODI selection.
“I’ve heard in the past that players sometimes don’t want to play because perhaps they aren’t motivated enough to feature in India A series. That can happen. But if you want to play in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, show that you’re serious about it. Go and play Ranji Trophy cricket and other tournaments – the selectors will then see that you’re committed,” he said.
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