Gautam Gambhir, the recently appointed head coach, stated at a press conference in Mumbai on Monday that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be crucial to India’s ODI and Test lineups throughout his tenure. Gambhir even predicted that the two seniors could play until the 2027 World Cup.
On Monday, July 22, recently hired head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their outstanding performances with the senior national team. He stated that they will play an important role in both ODIs and Tests moving forward. While leaving the door open for Rohit and Kohli to play beyond the 2025 season, Gambhir noted that they are determined to give their all for the Champions Trophy and the Test series in Australia
“I think they have shown what they can deliver on the big stage, whether it’s the T20 World Cup or the 50-over World Cup. One thing I can be very clear is that both of those guys have a lot of cricket left in them. And more importantly, the Champions Trophy is coming up and a big tour of Australia, they will be motivated enough. And then hopefully, if they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup is there,” Gambhir said while addressing the media ahead of India’s tour of Sri Lanka.
“This is a very personal decision. I can’t say how much cricket is left in them. Ultimately, it’s up to them. It’s up to the players (to decide) how much they can contribute to the team’s success. Ultimately, it’s the team that is important. Looking at what Virat and Rohit can deliver, they have a lot of cricket. They are still world-class. Any team would want both of them for as long as possible,” he added.
Upon winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados last month, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from T20I cricket. Both players will remain in the lineup for ODIs and Tests.
Gambhir also emphasized that Rohit and Kohli will play the majority of India’s crucial Test and ODI matches going forward, noting that they can better manage their workload because they are now only participating in these two formats at the top level. Rohit, 37, will be 41 during the 2027 ODI World Cup, while Kohli will be 38. Although Suryakumar Yadav was appointed as the captain of the T20I team last week, India has retained Rohit Sharma as the captain for ODIs and Tests.
“For someone like Jasprit Bumrah, workload management is crucial. Virat and Rohit must be available for the most important matches since they are not playing T20 cricket. A batsman can afford to play every game if he is in excellent form and playing quality cricket. Workload management is particularly important for bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah,” he stated.
Additionally, Rohit and Kohli have been selected for the August 3-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. Apparently, at Gambhir’s request, the two batters agreed to join the touring team. Gambhir’s first task as the head coach will be overseeing the trio of T20Is and the ODIs in the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.
