Former India keeper-batter Parthiv Patel has stated that both legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need to play domestic white-ball cricket, mainly the 50-over tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy, if they want to remain match-fit on the road to the 2027 ICC World Cup.

Rohit Sharma, 38, and Virat Kohli, 36, were both named in the Indian squad for the upcoming Australia ODI series. Both last played any competitive cricket in IPL 2025 and last played for India in March in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Parthiv is certain that Rohit and Kohli are working hard in the nets, as they have always done. However, with the ODI World Cup two years away, the objective will be to stay match-fit.

“Two years is a long time, especially if you see there aren’t too many ODI games. Like earlier times when there used to be 20-25 games a year, you get on a roll, and before you know it, two years have passed by. But it is a different challenge, and we are also new to this kind of challenge. The challenge is to keep themselves match-fit,” Parthiv was quoted as saying to PTI.

Parthiv believes that playing Vijay Hazare games between South Africa and New Zealand ODIs will help them stay on track.

“I would definitely feel that they should play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It is not about setting an example like ‘We have made Kohli and Rohit play Vijay Hazare.’ That’s not how I would like to think. Playing the Hazare Trophy will help their own game, and that in turn will help the Indian cricket team,” he added.

Shubman Gill has been named the new India ODI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, and Parthiv Patel shared his thoughts on how Gill shouldn’t have any problems leading the two experienced players, who are themselves flexible individuals.

“I don’t think that it will be a problem because of the kind of characters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are. You look at Virat; he became captain when MS Dhoni was still playing. He knows what role seniors play in grooming a new captain.

The same thing was there when Rohit became the captain. Yes, Virat wasn’t his senior but nevertheless a former skipper. Obviously, they have gone through that phase and understand the decision, which is about the betterment of Indian cricket; both of them always come across as mature. I don’t think Shubman needs to put his energies behind managing those senior players,” Parthiv stated.

The India and Australia ODI series will begin on October 19 in Perth.