Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his thoughts about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing in the ICC World Cup in 2027 and stated that the biggest challenge for the two veteran batters will be getting regular game time in preparation.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli only play one format for India—ODIs—having retired from T20Is in 2024 and from Tests in May this year. This leaves Rohit, 38, and Kohli, 36, struggling for game time in preparation for the future.
After featuring for India in the ICC Champions Trophy win in March, their next international assignment will be the three ODIs in Australia. Rohit would be 40 and Kohli would be 39 by the time of the World Cup, which is more than two years away. Two aging cricket players are rarely included in the starting lineup, much less in a major competition like the World Cup. According to rumors, if the two mainstays of batting are unable to continue, their ODI careers may come to an end.
Irfan Pathan stated that the biggest issue for Rohit and Kohli is getting enough game time in the 50-over format, as they probably will only play ODIs and IPL.
"For Kohli and Rohit, the only challenge would be to play regular cricket. Otherwise, they are all outstanding. Talking about these professional cricketers, whose only focus is to play cricket for now, the biggest challenge for them would be playing regularly and staying fit. Virat is going to play IPL only, and then whenever there is first-class cricket, but just to play and not to prove anything.
So, continuing the game time will not be an easy task. T20 has taken over, and one-dayers have taken a backseat, so the number of matches has changed in both. World Cup 2027 won’t be a challenge if the continuity of the game time is handled. Unfortunately, there will be pressure on them," Pathan told RevSportz.
"Whereas Rohit Sharma, I've spoken to him, and he's very keen about fitness. Then Virat, I am sure, is very keen as well, with the way he has been seen practicing in England. The keenness is important from the player’s point of view, so this is a great thing about them—that they are in touch and working on their fitness as well,” he added.
Pathan thinks that India's head coach Gambhir and chief BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar have definite plans for the 2027 World Cup and Kohli and Rohit. Communication is the only issue that worries him.
"I really think that should be the case, and I hope that the communication has been very clear," Pathan said on whether he sees Kohli and Rohit playing beyond the Australia ODIs. "Knowing Gautam (Gambhir) and Ajit (Agarkar), I think they have made it very clear in terms of communication. And as I said, having game time regularly will keep away all sorts of challenges. If you're talking about 2027, that challenge will be there because they're not playing for India currently. After, say, three games against Australia and IPL, if there is a big gap, then the continuity breaks,” Pathan concluded.
Between now and the 2027 World Cup, India will play at least 27 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), with a few more to follow after the new FTP is implemented. If Kohli and Rohit want to have any chance of representing India in another ICC event, they must be there in each of these games.
(RevSportz inputs)
