India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his confidence in senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, suggesting they could continue playing till the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Will Rohit and Kohli play in the 2027 ODI World Cup?
Rohit Sharma, 37, and Virat Kohli 35 who announced their T20I retirement will continue to play in Tests and ODIs. However, Gautam Gambhir said that he expects the senior batters to be available for most of the ODIs and Tests after retiring from T20 internationals, and also expressed his hope for the players to keep their fitness in check calculating for the next edition of the ODI World Cup.
The duo is expected to be rested for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour after the T20 World Cup triumph. But, they were named in India’s Squad for the three-match ODI series on the island hinting at featuring in the Champions Trophy. Speaking to the media after being named India’s head coach, Gambhir insisted on the importance of managing the workload of ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. He spoke about the necessity of Rohit and Kohli to move forward.
“I’ve said it before that workload management for someone like Jasprit Bumrah is important. For a batter, if they can play consistently if they’re in good form, might as well just play all the games,” he said.
“With Rohit and Virat not playing T20 cricket, we only have two formats to look after. I’m sure they’re going to be available for most of the games,” he added.
But for Bumrah, Gambhir highlighted saying “One rare kind bowler” has to be handled with more care due to injury concerns. “It’s our responsibility to try and have him fresh for most of the important games (and) that’s why workload management, not only for Jasprit Bumrah but for most of the fast bowlers becomes very, very important,” he said.
He added that he expects the senior batters to focus on their fitness targeting for the 2027 ODI World Cup which is set to be hosted in South Africa.
“They have shown what they can deliver on the big day…in the T20 World Cup, in the 50-overs World Cup as well,” he said. “One thing I can be very clear of is that both of those guys have a lot of cricket left in them. More importantly with the Champions Trophy and a big tour of Australia coming up they will be motivated.
“Because then, hopefully, if they can keep their fitness to make 2027 World Cup as well but this is a very personal decision. I can’t say how much cricket is left in them,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir did not reject having three teams across the formats but said the Indian team must show consistency, even though the T20I side is in transition following the retirements of Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja.
“See, eventually going forward, these things happen. For example, Virat and Rohit and Ravindra are not there in T20Is. But (I) can’t say right now that there are going to be three different teams,” he said.
“I think T20I (team) will obviously go through a transition with three seriously good players, world-class players, retiring from the format.
“But yes, in 50-overs and Test cricket, the more consistent we can be, the better it is going to be. The more players in both the formats, it is always better for any team,” he said.
“My experience or my learning has been very simple. In a sport, it’s all about winning, so I don’t deviate from something like that,” he said while talking about the lessons he learnt as mentor of IPL teams Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders.
“…we try and play hard and more importantly, we try and come back in a winning dressing room.. A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. I think I don’t like complicating things and that’s the kind of profession I’m in,” he asserted.
“Sometimes, international cricket can be tough and it can be insecure as well because only 15 can play. But it’s the job of the support staff to try and keep them in a happy state and that is going to be one thing which we definitely will be working for,” he added.
Coming to the Sri Lanka tour, the Sri Lanka tour will begin with the T20I leg starting on July 21 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
