Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has backed veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play for the Men in Blue in the ICC World Cup 2027 to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

The ex-chairman of the selection committee praised Rohit and Kohli for their match-winning efforts in an ODI in Sydney on Saturday, saying it was now time for the selectors to finalize their selections for the showpiece 50-over tournament, which is two years away.

Rohit Sharma, 38, and Virat Kohli, 36, combined for a 168-run stand in India's nine-wicket victory against Australia in the series finale. Rohit scored a well-paced 121 not out, while Kohli stayed unbeaten on 74, ending his duck streak after failing to bother the scorers in the first two ODIs in Perth and Adelaide.

It was evident that the selectors were considering the future when Shubman Gill took Rohit's place as captain. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, even intimated that the two batters' spots in the 2027 World Cup squad were uncertain and stated that they would be evaluated.

According to Srikkanth, Rohit's knock in Sydney was similar to his 2019 World Cup performance, when he was determined to play big innings and set a record with five hundreds.

"Ro-Ko set for 2027. Rohit, in my opinion, has to surely play the 2027 World Cup. Don't bring up the age factor. Don't say 'he is touching 40, brushing 40, reaching 40.' Stop all these. He is fit; he is playing well, taking slip catches cleanly. What else do you want? He is scoring in every match. He played effortlessly in Sydney. It felt similar to the way he played in the 2019 World Cup. Yes, he didn't go to the sixth gear and seventh gear. He was going in third and fourth gear," Srikkanth said on the YouTube channel.

"Virat Kohli, on the other hand, can play until 45, given his fitness. He is as fit as a 25-year-old," he said.

Over the years, Rohit has improved his one-day game, going from being a daddy hundreds accumulator to a slam-bang aggressor at the top. However, as his career draws to a close, the opener appears to have flipped a switch and returned to the strategy that once produced significant runs.

Instead of putting Rohit and Kohli on notice, Srikkanth suggested the selectors should give them a sense of security and try to assemble their World Cup team around the two mainstays.

"Don't spook them. Don't instill fear. Leave them alone. I think you have to tell them that they are important to the team. Tell them to look after themselves. 'We will form the team around you. You two are very important. Please make sure you are fit enough. I think this should be the thought process and communication. If they do it this way, it will be good for Team India and the two players. If I were the chairman of the selection committee, today itself I would go to them and say, 'Just be fit for the 2027 World Cup and win us the trophy'," he added.

Rohit and Kohli are expected to play for India in the three-ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30.