BCCI president Mithun Manhas has said Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be assessed on their fitness and performances, rather than their age, as India prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup ahead of its tour of New Zealand.
In an interview with Sportstar, Manhas indicated that the two senior batters would need to maintain their form to remain in contention for the World Cup. The tournament, held every four years, is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November next year.
Both cricketers retired from T20I and Test cricket over the past two years and are hoping to feature in one final ODI World Cup. They were part of the Indian side that lost the final of the previous edition.
Manhas said selection should be based entirely on fitness and performance, stressing that players who are fit, performing well and helping the country win matches should be considered, regardless of their age.
HOW OLD WILL ROHIT AND VIRAT BE DURING THE WORLD CUP?
Rohit Sharma will turn 40 in April 2027, while Virat Kohli will be 38 during the tournament. Their ages have prompted former cricketers and fans to question India's plans for transitioning to a younger team and the roles the two experienced players might have in the coming years.
During Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chief selector, the transition was managed systematically, with Rohit, Virat and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rohit and Virat later retired from Test cricket in 2025.
Speculation over Rohit Sharma's retirement intensified following a dip in his ODI form, but his century at Lord's helped ease those concerns, at least temporarily. Kohli, meanwhile, has continued to enjoy his role in the ODI format, scoring runs at an exceptional average comparable to that of Don Bradman.
Manhas also discussed how Rohit and Virat's experience could support Shubman Gill as captain, drawing a comparison with Virat's development under MS Dhoni and Dhoni's own guidance from Sourav Ganguly.
He noted that Gill had captained Gujarat Titans for two or three years in addition to leading India, adding that this experience could prove valuable when he begins his World Cup campaign. Manhas said the presence of Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Rohit would benefit Gill, while Jasprit Bumrah could take responsibility for leading the bowling unit and another player could oversee the fielding side. He emphasised the importance of distributing responsibilities and described Gill as level-headed, saying the senior players' presence would be an advantage.
India will begin a multi-format tour of New Zealand on October 22, featuring five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches. The ODI series is scheduled to run from November 4 to 15, bringing Kohli and Rohit into focus as India continues its preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
