![Rohit, Kohli backed to retain place in India's ODI team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1785318301952_Rohit,KohlibackedtoretainplaceinIndia'sODIteam.jpg?type=hq)
Rohit, Kohli backed to retain place in India's ODI team [Source: AFP]
The 2027 ODI World Cup is still far away, but the big question related to the Indian cricket team is still unanswered: Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli be a part of the World Cup team? Question marks have been raised regarding their position in the team, and despite performing exceedingly well, their place is not guaranteed.
Every series between now and the 2027 World Cup will be a litmus test for India’s two most experienced players, and one bad performance could result in the pair losing their World Cup spot.
Both Rohit and Kohli are two greats of the game, and despite the rumours that they might not play in the World Cup, several former cricketers have backed the pair to make it to the marquee event. Interestingly, not only Indian cricket experts, but Bangladesh legend Shakib Al Hasan has also come out in support of Rohit and Kohli.
Shakib Al Hasan comes out in support of Rohit, Kohli
The former Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan has played against Rohit and Kohli numerous times at the international level, and in an interview with RevSportz, the legendary player backed the Indian greats to play the ODI World Cup 2027.
The all-rounder stated that the duo have been great ambassadors of the game, and if they play, India will win the ODI World Cup.
"They have been great ambassadors for Indian cricket. People follow them because of what they have achieved. They have contributed tremendously to Indian cricket and are still going strong, especially in ODI cricket. If both of them play in the 2027 World Cup, India will have a very good chance," Shakib told RevSportz.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma - 8/10, Virat Kohli? Indian Players' Ratings After England ODIs
When asked about whether age could become Kohli and Rohit’s biggest enemy, Shakib added that only performance matters.
"That’s what I believe. Performance should be the sole criterion."
Why do selectors want to move on from Rohit, Kohli in ODIs?
For starters, Rohit is 39, while Kohli is 37, and by the time the World Cup arrives, both will be 41 and 39, respectively. They won’t be getting any younger, and as you age, your reflexes slow, and it is hard to judge the pace of the ball.
While Kohli has still performed on a consistent basis in the ODIs, Rohit has done well in bits and pieces and has largely been inconsistent, barring a couple of stellar knocks.
The selectors are reportedly interested in having a younger squad, and that is the main reason why they are pondering having ROKO in the ODI scheme of things.
Why Rohit, Kohli deserve to play in the ODI World Cup 2027
Even in the twilight of their careers, Rohit and Kohli are still the two best ODI players in the squad. They have scored truckloads of runs and have been match-winners in this format.
Since 2025, Kohli has played 19 ODI matches, and the player with the most ODI tons has scored 1035 runs, with an average of 64.69, including four hundreds.
The same has been the case for Rohit, who led India to a Champions Trophy triumph in 2025, and since the start of last year, he has accumulated 379 runs, with an average of 42.11.
Moreover, India will play the majority of their 2027 World Cup games in South Africa, and both Rohit and Kohli have ample experience of playing on those tricky wickets, and that could come in handy for the Men in Blue.
Also Read: Is Gautam Gambhir's India Equipped Enough To Counter Biggest Sri Lankan Threat?
.jpg?type=mq "West Indies Gift Babar Azam A Boundary")
