Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Not Likely To Appear In 2027 ODI World Cup: Sunil Gavaskar

Cricket great Sunil Gavaskar has expressed serious concerns regarding the involvement of Indian greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 2027 ODI World Cup. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Gavaskar recognized the gigantic contributions of both players to Indian cricket but hinted that age could be a deciding factor in their omission from the team for the next tournament.

Age Factor a Major Consideration

Both the batters will be 38 and 40 years old, respectively, by the time the 2027 ODI World Cup starts. Gavaskar underscored that both the batters have had glorious careers in 50-over cricket, but the pressure of international cricket at the age of 38 and above might become a challenge for them to play at the top level.

Recent Retirements from Test and T20I Formats

 

The rumor follows closely on the heels of the pair announcing their retirements from two of the game’s big formats:

Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 7, 2025

Virat Kohli did the same, retiring from Test cricket on May 12, 2025

They had previously announced their retirements from T20 Internationals following India’s record-breaking victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Looking Ahead to India’s Future in the 2027 ODI World Cup

With both the senior players retiring from several formats, the Indian team will go through a massive change before the 2027 ODI World Cup. The attention is likely to turn towards nurturing young talent capable of taking things forward after leaving behind the legacy of Rohit and Virat.

India’s ODI Schedule Till World Cup 2027 – At a Glance

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