Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup future sealed as Dinesh Lad makes big comment

Dinesh Lad backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for ODI World Cup 2027 [Source: arim_sehwat/X]

Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, who resides in Borivali, Mumbai, has backed both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup. For the unaware, Lad has been Rohit Sharma’s coach since his early playing days.

In a recent exclusive interaction with MyKhel, he expressed a strong belief in the senior duo’s ability to continue at the highest level and contribute in the mega tournament scheduled for next year.

Dinesh Lad lauds Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s determination

Dinesh Lad sounded confident and optimistic about their future, citing Rohit Sharma’s peak fitness in recent times and his remarkable physical transformation.

"Everyone was saying that Rohit and Kohli are finished. But I want Rohit to play in the 2027 World Cup. Both of them will play. And they will retire only after winning the World Cup," he said.

Although both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025 and are now focusing only on ODIs, the Dronacharya Award-winning coach feels that retirement is not on the cards for them anytime soon.

Lad backs Rohit Sharma’s fitness game

Lad also recalled Rohit missing out on the 2011 World Cup, which India won under MS Dhoni’s leadership. Rohit’s long-standing dream of winning a World Cup as captain was shattered in 2023, when India lost the final against Australia despite reaching the summit clash.

Lad believes that this unfinished dream could further motivate Rohit, along with Virat Kohli, to perform strongly in the 2027 World Cup.

"In his mind, he thought that he should have the World Cup in his hands. He has given a lot of attention to fitness. He is doing well with fitness. He is also batting well," the coach added.

Rohit and Kohli displaying peak form since mid-2025

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have continued to show strong form with the bat. While Rohit has endured a below-par New Zealand ODI series so far, he produced a heroic performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai against Sikkim, scoring 155 runs off just 94 deliveries.

In the South Africa ODI series, he registered two half-centuries, with notable knocks of 57 and 75. Against Australia as well, Rohit managed one century and one half-century from three ODI appearances.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, boasts staggering numbers. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he averaged 104 from two innings, including a century. In the South Africa vs India ODI series in 2025, Kohli scored two centuries and averaged an astonishing 151 across three matches.

Although his India vs Australia ODI series began with a pair of ducks, he bounced back with a solid 74 off 81 balls in the third ODI on October 25. With both Indian stalwarts still producing big runs and showing strong hunger, their prospects of leading India’s batting charge heading into the 2027 World Cup cycle remain very much alive.