Kohli and Rohit are keen to play the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Former Proteas cricketer Daryl Cullinan reckons that senior Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cannot afford a slip up amid uncertainty surrounding their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup, slated to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Kohli and Rohit called time on their Test careers within a gap of five days in May last year. Having retired from T20Is in 2024, the veteran campaigners are now only playing the ODI format.
With fewer ODIs being scheduled these days, questions remain over the ageing duo's participation in the quadrennial event next year. Furthermore, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have not given a firm commitment, keeping the decision on their involvement for the World Cup coy.
The two stalwarts last featured in the ODI series against England. While Kohli scored a couple of half-centuries in three ODIs, Rohit brushed off retirement chatter after slamming 138 in the series-decider at Lord’s.
However, Cullinan warned that Kohli and Rohit must play a high volume of competitive cricket to stay battle-hardened for the global showpiece, noting they cannot rely on reputation alone.
"I think the intention is the World Cup, isn't it? From an ODI perspective, I think he's (Kohli) got it. He can't make one mistake, though. If he is thinking that he can suddenly move into it quickly in a short period of time, and find some form. And I think that's where Gambhir is reading it correctly. The likes of him and Rohit Sharma or whoever is going to be in contention, whatever format, you have to be playing it, whether you're playing domestically, but you have to be in the middle because it also keeps that game familiarity alive," Cullinan told Times Now.
"Getting to a game, the preparation process, toughening up mentally, getting in the groove and the routine. The mistake some coaches and players make is thinking that suddenly, well, 'I'll arrive and have a few nets, have two, three games.' You've got to be battle-hardened. So I think if he's prepared to put in the yards or play domestic when he's asked to. The one-day internationals leading up to the World Cups, then, and on the back of good, hard, competitive T20 cricket, then I think he'll be fine," he added.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will next be in action during the three-match ODI series against the West Indies at home from September 27 to October 3.