In a major development following India’s squad announcement for the upcoming Australia ODI series, cricket legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been included in the team but without leadership roles. Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit Sharma as captain, while Shreyas Iyer takes over as vice-captain. The two senior pros will return to international action for the first time since the IPL 2025 season.
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has made a striking statement about both players’ future in ODI cricket. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Pathan emphasized that if Rohit and Kohli want to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup, they must participate regularly in domestic tournaments to maintain their game fitness.
He explained, “Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are working on their fitness levels, but there’s a difference between general fitness and match fitness. Without consistent competitive play, they risk losing their rhythm. To stay in form and achieve their World Cup 2027 dream, they must play domestic cricket.”
Pathan further highlighted that the duo’s long absence from T20 Internationals could create significant gaps in their match practice. “They are world-class players with unmatched experience, but without regular match exposure, it’s difficult to stay sharp,” he added.
Currently, Rohit Sharma, who guided India to Champions Trophy glory earlier this year, and Virat Kohli have both retired from Tests and T20Is but continue to be active in ODIs. Among other key updates, Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy have been dropped from the Australia series, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, and Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant remain unavailable due to injuries.
If both Rohit and Kohli follow Pathan’s advice and return to domestic cricket, it could help them sustain their match readiness and improve India’s chances in the 2027 ICC World Cup.
