Rajkumar Sharma, childhood coach of the star Indian batter Virat Kohli, has shut down his detractors questioning his place in the Indian squad for the ICC World Cup 2027. There have been questions about Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s spots in the Indian squad on the road to the ICC event that will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia next year.
In 2026, Kohli has played six ODIs, scoring 384 runs with an average of 64 and a strike rate of 106.66, with one century and three fifties, with the best score of 124. He has been in golden form in ODIs since giving up on T20Is in 2024 and Tests in 2025.
Overall, Kohli has 14941 runs in 314 ODIs, with an average of 58.59 and a strike rate of 93.95, with 54 centuries and a best score of 183 runs.
Virat Kohli's role in India's 2027 ODI World Cup aspirations remains unclear. His childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, says there should be no question at all.
“I think you should see for yourself what he’s doing, what he has done in the last few matches, and how he is doing it on the field. So, I think it should not be a discussion even,” Rajkumar told India Today.
Since the 2025 Champions Trophy, Kohli has been India's highest ODI run scorer, with 760 runs in 12 matches at an average of 76, including three hundreds and five fifties. Rajkumar believes the performances have already proved their point.
Rajkumar believes this is also true for Rohit. At 39, the former India captain remains the subject of debate over his ODI future, despite accumulating 727 runs in 15 games since the Champions Trophy at an average of 51.92, including two hundreds.
“I mean, as a player, I think he’s a tremendous player. Undoubtedly, he’s a match-winner. On his given day, he’s a match-winner,” Rajkumar said.
Rajkumar sees little cause to challenge Kohli's spot. His confidence stems from having watched the batter before he rose to prominence in international cricket. Sharma also pointed out that Kohli set standards for others to follow with his fitness and preparation.
“He had tremendous confidence in his own ability, and he works really hard. He’s got tremendous work ethic. Yeah, he was a God-gifted guy. I mean, God has made him for cricket, and the work ethic he had was simply brilliant, and that is why he became such a big player. He has given the fitness mantra not only to the cricketers but to the whole country. So he has contributed a lot to Indian cricket, and I’m really proud of him,” Rajkumar Sharma said.
Rajkumar Sharma also spoke of the journey of Virat Kohli, with whom he has also been part of for more than 25 years.
“We talk among ourselves also. When he became the captain, he said he never thought of it, that we’ll be there. So, I mean, it is a nostalgic moment. We always remember those,” Sharma said.
Kohli and Rohit will next be in action when India hosts the West Indies for three ODIs in September and will travel to New Zealand for 5 ODI matches between November 4 and 15 before Sri Lanka arrives for three more in December.
(India Today inputs)
