The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to make some huge decisions in the coming year, which may exclude some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup squad. Both stars have carried the hopes of over a billion fans on their shoulders for more than a decade, scripting legendary moments across formats. However, BCCI feels that it may be time for a change, considering their ages and wants to have ‘honest conversations’ with them before deciding whether to include these two stars in the World Cup squad or to test out younger stars as potential replacements for the two stars.
Credit: India Today
This news came as a surprise to most Indian fans, as while they both have now retired from the Twenty20 International (T20I) format and the Test format, everyone expected the duo to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup despite their age. While Rohit Sharma will be 40 years old and Virat Kohli will be 38 years old, these two stars are still considered to be some of the best Indian players in the One Day International format, and it will be quite surprising if the BCCI decide to remove them from the squad. The selectors are set to make tough decisions as to whether to continue with the veterans or start building a younger core for the long-term future.
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While experience is invaluable in international cricket, the demands of the modern game, especially in the 50-over format, are changing rapidly. Fitness, fielding agility, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations in diverse conditions are non-negotiable at the World Cup level. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still fantastic in the ODI format of the game, their game may start showing some problems by the time the 2027 World Cup comes around. BCCI are worried that if they leave this decision till the end, they may not be able to train their replacements properly. This is why BCCI want to make their decision regarding the two stars as soon as possible to give clarity to the entire team.
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are reportedly not certainties for the 2027 World Cup, with both players nearing their 40s.
The BCCI is expected to discuss their future as they look to test a few youngsters ahead of the tournament. pic.twitter.com/dYbrgdapgp
— Sabuu ✨ (@Sabanatarjan2) August 6, 2025
If Rohit Sharma is indeed phased out from the ODI setup, the next big question will be about captaincy. Hardik Pandya, once seen as the natural successor, has been plagued by injuries. KL Rahul has captained in patches, but his place in the ODI XI may not be guaranteed. Given that the BCCI have trusted Shubman Gill with the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, it is quite likely that they will follow the trend and make Gill the ODI captain as well. However, leading India at the ODI World Cup is a huge responsibility and BCCI will want to give Gill enough time to prepare if they are going to name him as India’s next One Day International captain.
BCCI will have a very tough task ahead of them as replacing legends is never easy, especially when they are two of the biggest names in Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. BCCI will surely receive a great deal of backlash if they decide to remove Virat and Rohit from the 2027 World Cup squad, but they will have to set aside sentiment while making their decision. The BCCI has made no concrete decision as of yet, and only time will tell whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma end up participating in the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup. The next few months could well define Indian cricket’s roadmap for the rest of the decade.
For more news articles and informative updates on BCCI, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as well as other football and cricket updates, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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