Shubman Gill Confirms Kohli-Rohit For 2027 World Cup

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Indian captain Shubman Gill has all but confirmed the places of India's two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, for the 2027 ODI World Cup, set to be held in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Notably, India are currently in England for the three-match ODI series, with the first ODI scheduled to take place at Edgbaston on Tuesday, July 14.

Ahead of the first ODI, Shubman Gill revealed a key detail during the pre-match press conference, which strongly hinted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are almost certain to be part of India's squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Shubman Gill Confirms Virat and Rohit's Place In ODI World Cup

Notably, during the press conference, Shubman Gill revealed that he had a discussion with Virat Kohli a day earlier regarding the team's combination and the planning for next year's mega tournament. 

The two discussed the team composition and which players would best fit into the plans for the World Cup. Shubman Gill said,

"We were talking about the combination. Which combination would be best for us in SA. Which players are there who may not be in team now, but can help us in the future. Which bowlers, which all-rounders, which spinners..."

Moreover, Gill also put an end to the speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's place in India's World Cup plans. Speaking about the veteran duo, he said:

"Rohit and Virat have been the backbone of Indian cricket for the past one decade and both remain an integral part of the team."

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Why Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli's ODI Future Was Under The Scanner

Notably, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the ODI future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma over the past few months. 

By the time 2027 ODI World Cup begins in South Africa and Zimbabwe next autumn, Rohit will be 40 years old, while Kohli will be 39, raising questions over whether the veteran duo would continue until the marquee event.

Moreover, their fitness has also remained a major talking point. Rohit Sharma sustained a hamstring injury during IPL 2026, which forced him to miss six matches.

After returning, he featured only as an Impact Player to manage his workload. Following the IPL, Rohit reported to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he received fitness clearance before making his comeback in the home ODI series against Afghanistan.

The former Indian skipper looked in fine touch upon his return, scoring 143 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 115.32, further strengthening his case for the 2027 World Cup.

Virat Kohli's Performances Strengthened His World Cup Case

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli missed the Afghanistan ODI series due to a hamstring injury. However, before being sidelined, the Indian stalwart had already made a strong statement with his performances in IPL 2026 as well as in the home ODI series against New Zealand. 

Against the Kiwis, Kohli amassed 240 runs in three innings at an impressive average of 80.00, including one century and one half-century.

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