Gambhir considers Rohit and Kohli still capable of playing for Team India in WC 2027

Newly appointed Indian Men’s Senior Team head coach Gautam Gambhir conveyed his confidence in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, mentioning that the two cricket legends will play an important role in the success of Tests and ODIs forthcoming matches. The new head coach also highlighted that Rohit and Kohli would be highly motivated to perform well in the upcoming Champions Trophy and Border Gavaskar Series in Australia, and also hinted at the possibility of them playing in the Senior team beyond the year 2025.

“They have proven their ability to perform on the biggest stages, whether in T20 or 50-over WC tournaments. It’s clear that both players still have plenty of cricket left in them. Moreover, with the upcoming Champions Trophy and a major tour of Australia, they will be highly motivated. And if they can maintain their fitness, they may even have the chance to compete in the WC 2027,” Gautam Gambhir stated.

“This is a highly personal decision for the players. It’s difficult to say how much cricket they have left in them. Ultimately, it’s up to them to decide how much they can contribute to the team. The team’s success is what’s most important. Considering Virat and Rohit’s current abilities, they still have a lot of cricket left in them and are still world-class players. Any team would want to keep them for as long as possible,” he added.

The former Indian player also said that Rohit and Kohli will feature in maximum of Team India’s vital Test and ODI matches. He stated that this will permit them to allow their workload, as they have retired from T20Is and will only compete in the other two formats. 

“Effective workload management is crucial, especially for bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are retired from T20Is, they need to be featured in other formats. For batters, playing consistently and maintaining good form is ideal, but workload management is vital for most bowlers,” he said.