Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir. PC- AFP
Team India is set to begin their preparations for the World Cup 2027, with the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting on Saturday. Although the Men in Blue have already played a couple of bilateral ODIs under Shubman Gill, the IND vs AFG series will lay a clear roadmap for the marquee event.
The BCCI decided to move on from Rohit Sharma after he won the 2025 Champions Trophy, giving the captaincy to Gill, who leads India in two formats. However, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still the main two mainstays in the ODI format.
Having retired from the other two formats, Sharma and Kohli feature only in ODIs, keeping Mission 2027 in mind despite outside noise against them.
Anil Kumble on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's importance for Shubman Gill
Ahead of the big ODI series against Afghanistan, the Indian captain Shubman Gill earned high praise for his leadership skills from the one-and-only Anil Kumble.
The former Indian captain mentioned that Gill rotated his bowlers well in the IPL 2026, where the Gujarat Titans (GT) reached the finals, and cited that the GT skipper responded with clarity in pressure situations.
"We have seen in the IPL that he (Shubman Gill) has rotated his bowlers well, used his spinners at the right time, and handled pressure situations with clarity. His form with the bat has not dipped," Anil Kumble said on JioStar.
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Furthermore, Kumble, who has also coached Team India, remarked about the importance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Shubman Gill-led ODI side.
"They (Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma) can guide him with field placements, bowling changes, and key tactical decisions. Shubman doesn't have to carry the burden alone," Kumble said.
Kumble also commented on LSG's Prince Yadav, who earned his maiden India call-up, and will be featuring in the forthcoming ODI series.
"His (Prince Yadav) variety, cutters, slower balls and yorkers make him an all-phase bowler," Kumble said, adding that young players should be given a sustained run to settle into international cricket.
IPL injury ruled out Virat Kohli from IND vs AFG
Recently, the Virat Kohli-famed RCB won back-to-back IPL titles, during which the star batter scored 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85.
Additionally, Kohli saved his best for the last, scoring a match-sealing 75* against Shubman Gill's GT in the IPL 2026 final.
However, it is learnt that the prolific star played the IPL season with a hamstring injury that worsened over time, and Kohli has been ruled out of the IND vs AFG ODIs, although he is slated to return for the ODIs against England.
Rohit Sharma fighting it hard for WC dream
Moreover, Rohit Sharma has proved his fitness at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) ahead of the upcoming ODIs against Afghanistan, especially after missing half of the IPL 2026 season.
If reports are to be believed, the 39-year-old batter is not in head coach Gautam Gambhir's plans for the 2027 World Cup. But if he continues to score runs and stay fit, no one could keep a player like Rohit out.
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