Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both joined the team for the New Zealand 50-over series, and I am sure we will soon hear talk about their 2027 World Cup chances. Aakash Chopra, who was my guest on Backstage With Boria yesterday, made an interesting point on this issue.
“Rohit and Virat both played the 2023 World Test Championship final in England in June of that year,” he said. “Had you mentioned to the two of them then that they would be retired from Test cricket by June 2025, both would have laughed it off. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. That’s why it is very difficult to say if they will both be there for the 2027 World Cup, given that the competition is still 20 months away. Having said that, both have shown the hunger and the fitness needed. I will say the decision is now entirely with them.”
The last line is interesting—and may I say, he is right. From what we have seen of Rohit and Kohli between October and December, one thing is certain: both of them have the game and the commitment to succeed. Cricket is still a priority, and both have done the hard yards, including playing domestic cricket as per the BCCI requirement. In my book, neither would have travelled to Australia for the bilateral series had they not given the 2027 World Cup a thought. To just play a bilateral series or a set of inconsequential ODI games makes little sense for either of them. They have nothing to prove to anyone, and unless the World Cup is driving them, it doesn’t make sense for them to carry on playing the 50-over format.
Rohit, as we all agree, is now looking fitter than ever, and for Virat, fitness was never really an issue. Finally, with both scoring big runs and looking good while doing so, they have taken back control of their careers. It will now be up to them to decide if they want to continue and if they want to give it one final shot at the 50-over title. While Virat has won it before, in 2011, Rohit does not have a 50-over World Cup title under his belt, and it could be a fitting finale to a fantastic career.
Also, as Akash says: “In South Africa, you can say that you will need their experience. You will need batters who have class and that special ability. Both of these players have that ability, so from that standpoint it is very likely that we will see them in South Africa. But the decision, as I said, will entirely depend on them.”
Every game they now play will draw massive support, and every run they score will call for celebration. Come to think of it, you wouldn’t want to radically change your team at the end of 2026 for the 2027 World Cup. So, every road points to Virat and Rohit being there in South Africa, and if that happens, the tournament will be a huge blockbuster. For now, it’s time to enjoy watching them against New Zealand.
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