Former Indian World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth believes that the legendary Indian duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be considered to be part of India’s Playing XI until the 2027 ICC World Cup. However, he has urged the Indian management to make them match-ready with participation in domestic competitions.
Indian batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both retired from the longest as well as the shortest format of international cricket. However, the two greats have expressed their desire to continue in the two remaining formats.
Amid several reports that have raised doubts about the future of the two greats, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s practice consultant, Abhishek Nayar, has dropped an update claiming that he has lost 10 kgs with the determination to be back in the Indian side for the Australia series.
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“Tell them to play the Vijay-Hazare Trophy or other challengers” – Kris Srikkanth on Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli
Srikkanth felt that, considering the contributions from the two Indian legends, they should be handed another opportunity after they missed the World Cup title by just a whisker back in 2023.
“The very fact that they’ve said they are available, they both want to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, hoping that they win the title, having missed it by a whisker in 2023. I’ll surely give it to them because they’ve done so much,” said Kris Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
He has also cited that the Indian greats should be urged to feature in the Indian domestic 50-over games in order to make them match-ready during the big gaps in the Indian international calendar.
“They will have to play all the domestic tournaments across India. You should tell them to start playing the one-day tournaments like Vijay Hazare and other challengers so that they get back into rhythm,” he further added.
The duo were last seen playing for India back in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, where India won their second consecutive ICC title under the leadership of skipper Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s form has also not been considered a huge concern on the Indian side, since the two batters, despite their age, have been flawless.
“I am sure they themselves know it, having been such stalwarts and successful former captains. Won’t they not have that much awareness? They’ll know what to do and what not to do. For people who’ve achieved so much, especially Virat Kohli, I’ll give them the extra bit of leverage,” the World Cup-winning opener continued.
Their next international schedule will be against Australia in the 3-match series on their tour to the island nation.
Srikkanth believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must be putting in efforts from their end
After backing the Indian cricketers, he also claimed that they are probably putting in the hard yards from their end. Kohli is India’s second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, Rohit is fourth on the list, and the two are vastly experienced cricketers.
“They have to get at least some match practice. And they’ll come and do it. They’ll do it automatically; you don’t even have to tell them. Probably Virat Kohli is practising in England. How do we know? It’s a cricket-playing country. Likewise, Rohit Sharma is probably practising here. So they will be preparing for it,” said Srikkanth via the aforementioned source.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are also the fourth- and second-highest run-getters in the history of the World Cup. The two were also the top run scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India finished as the runners-up.
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