Former Indian cricketer and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has not endorsed veteran Rohit Sharma for the ODI World Cup 2027, which is set to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. During a press conference, India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that if senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli maintain their fitness and form, they could potentially participate in the 2027 World Cup.
Looking ahead to 2027, it is worth noting that Virat Kohli will be over 38 years old and Rohit Sharma will be 40 years old. This raises questions about their ability to continue performing at the highest level of international cricket.
During a recent discussion on his YouTube channel with his son Anirudh, Krishnamachari Srikkanth speculated on the potential participation of Virat Kohli in the 2027 World Cup. Srikkanth expressed confidence in Kohli's abilities, labeling him as a champion player. However, he voiced concerns about Rohit Sharma's fitness, suggesting that Sharma may not be fit to compete in the tournament. Srikkanth went as far as to say that Sharma should not play in the 2027 World Cup, as he may struggle in the conditions, particularly in South Africa.
"He [Rohit] is a good player, but his age is 37 presently, and the next ODI World Cup is three more years ahead. He will be 40 years old then. You can't play World Cup at 40s. Yeah, Virat Kohli could play in the 2027 World Cup, in my opinion, for sure. But for Rohit, Mr. Gambhir, you went overboard; he will faint in South Africa," Srikkanth said.
During the 2023 ODI World Cup, India showcased an impressive performance by reaching the finals without a single defeat. However, the hearts of millions of cricket fans were shattered on November 19 when the Men in Blue suffered a devastating loss to Australia by 6 wickets in the final match. Despite this setback, Captain Rohit Sharma displayed remarkable resilience and determination. Six months later, the India men's cricket team emerged victorious by lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in West Indies. It is worth noting that Rohit Sharma was the highest run-scorer for India in the tournament, accumulating a total of 257 runs from 8 matches.
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