Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s hopes of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup has stirred a lot of reaction on social media. Fans want to see their stars in the playing XI while the selectors are appearing to be in two minds about the same.
According to multiple media reports, the Indian team management and selectors are yet to commit to the inclusion of the veteran duo in their long-term plans for the tournament, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. While neither player has officially commented on the speculation, the news has triggered intense debate over India’s future squad composition.
Rohit, 38, and Kohli, 36, took retirement from Test cricket and T20Is but are currently part of India’s setup for bilateral series and ICC events. Both the veteran batters annouced their test retirement after the rumours of Shubman Gill becoming the new Test captain came out.
Should Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma be certainties for the 2027 ODI World Cup? Fans have their say
But with more than two years to go for the next 50-over World Cup, there is an increasing focus on transitioning towards younger talent. Both players were central to India’s campaign in the 2023 edition, where they reached the final but lost to Australia in Ahmedabad.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions ranged from emotional defences of the pair’s legacy to pragmatic acceptance of a generational shift. “You don’t just drop legends like Rohit and Kohli. They are still match-winners,” wrote one fan. Others argued that planning for 2027 should begin now, with an eye on players who will be in peak form and fitness at that time.
The development comes amid a busy calendar for the Indian team, including the ongoing preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the World Test Championship cycle. Selectors are reportedly evaluating performances in both international matches and the IPL before finalising long-term plans.
Kohli is India’s second-highest run-getter in ODIs with over 13,000 runs. Rohit is regarded as one of the format’s most destructive openers, holding the record for the highest individual score in an innings (264). Despite their achievements, selectors face the challenge of balancing experience with the need to build a squad capable of competing in changing conditions and formats.
For now, the possibility of an ODI World Cup without India’s two modern-day greats remains hypothetical but the conversation around it has clearly struck a chord with fans.
