New Delhi: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will need to prove their form and fitness to remain in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup, refusing to make any guarantees about their long-term place in the squad.
Addressing a press conference at the Arun Jaitley Stadium after India’s 2–0 Test series win over the West Indies, Gambhir made it clear that selection decisions will be guided by performance rather than past achievements. His comments come ahead of India’s white-ball tour of Australia, which marks Kohli and Rohit’s return to international cricket after an eight-month break.
“The 2027 World Cup is still over two years away,” Gambhir said. “Right now, it’s important for us to focus on the present. Both Virat and Rohit are exceptional players and have contributed immensely to Indian cricket. I hope they perform well in Australia, but the future will depend on consistency, form, and fitness — not reputation.”
The former opener’s remarks align with chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s earlier statement, in which he too avoided confirming the duo’s long-term role in India’s ODI setup. Gambhir’s pragmatic approach appears to contrast with new ODI captain Shubman Gill’s recent assertion that the experience of Kohli and Rohit remains “invaluable” for the team’s balance heading into the next ICC tournament cycle.
Both veterans have not played international cricket since India’s Champions Trophy victory in the UAE earlier this year, and their inclusion in the upcoming Australia series is seen by many as a test of readiness rather than a guaranteed recall.
Kohli, fresh off leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title in 2025, recently returned to India after a four-month break in London, where he was training ahead of the series. He reportedly cleared his mandatory fitness assessments last week. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, has been training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and later at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, under the supervision of former batting coach Abhishek Nayar.
When asked about managing senior players alongside a young leadership group, Gambhir said, “Every player, regardless of experience, must contribute to the team’s vision. Indian cricket’s strength has always been its competition for places. That will never change.”
The Indian team is scheduled to depart for Australia on Wednesday for a three-match ODI series, which will serve as the first major overseas challenge under Gambhir’s coaching tenure and Gill’s ODI captaincy.
Cricket analysts see Gambhir’s comments as a clear message — that India’s transition plan is already in motion, and even stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit will need to earn their spot in the next phase of the team’s evolution.
