As the BCCI and team management begin outlining long-term plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, questions surrounding the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have sparked debate. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has repeatedly emphasised present performance over reputation, suggesting that neither Kohli nor Rohit is guaranteed a place in the squad for the tournament in South Africa. Both players will be nearing 40 by then, and the management is wary of relying too heavily on veterans whose form, fitness and hunger may fluctuate with age.
However, the board’s cautious stance has drawn sharp pushback. Former India selector Devang Gandhi believes that excluding Kohli and Rohit from central planning would be a grave mistake. He argues that the two modern greats should instead form the backbone of India’s 2027 campaign, with the rest of the squad built around them. After India’s 12-year wait for another ODI World Cup title and the heartbreak of the 2023 final, Gandhi feels the team cannot afford another cycle of uncertainty and experimentation.
Gandhi recalled the issues that haunted India before previous World Cups, particularly the failure to settle the No. 4 position before 2019, which led to instability when the top order collapsed in the semifinal. He cited similar problems in 2023, where Suryakumar Yadav was drafted into the XI despite a modest ODI record because injuries and selection inconsistencies left the team without a prepared alternative. According to Gandhi, the coming years demand clarity, consistency and a tightly defined pool of around 20 players instead of rotating through large squads.
The concerns extend beyond the senior duo. Aside from Kohli, Rohit, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, India still lacks a reliable middle and lower order. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal recently scored their maiden ODI centuries but remain far from cementing their places. Rishabh Pant is yet to regain an automatic spot in the XI, and Shreyas Iyer is sidelined with injury. Gandhi warned that unless India identifies and commits to a stable batting core soon, the consequences could be “catastrophic,” especially in high-pressure knockout scenarios.
As the countdown to 2027 begins, the debate over experience versus transition continues to intensify. While Gambhir’s forward-looking approach prioritises longevity and freshness, Gandhi insists that India’s best chance lies in keeping Kohli and Rohit at the centre of their plans. The next two years will determine which philosophy ultimately shapes India’s World Cup bid.
