'Stop': India selectors given Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli selection warning

Former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth urged the BCCI selectors to back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 World Cup, emphasizing their fitness and recent performances. He advised clear communication, assuring the veterans of their importance and encouraging them to focus on staying fit to lead India to victory.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)

Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has urged the BCCI selection committee to back senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with full confidence instead of creating doubts about their future in ODI cricket. His remarks come after both stalwarts made a successful return during the recent ODI series against Australia, where Rohit was named Player of the Series and Kohli rediscovered his rhythm with a half-century following two early dismissals. Over the last 18 months, both Rohit and Kohli have stepped away from Test and T20I cricket, leaving ODIs as their only active international format. Despite their age, their recent performances have reinforced their importance in India’s setup. However, ahead of the ODI series, chief selector Ajit Agarkar suggested that the duo isn't committed to the next ODI World Cup.

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Srikkanth, who once headed India’s selection panel, strongly defended the duo, insisting that age should not be a deciding factor when it comes to their place in the team. “Ro-Ko set for 2027. Rohit, in my opinion, has to surely play the 2027 World Cup. Don't bring the age factor. Don't say 'he is touching 40, brushing 40, reaching 40'. Stop all these. He is fit, he is playing well, taking slip catches cleanly. What else do you want? He is scoring in every match. He played effortlessly in Sydney. It felt similar to the way he played in the 2019 World Cup. Yes, he didn't go to the sixth, gear and seventh gear. He was going in third and fourth gear,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. He added that Kohli’s fitness and commitment set him apart. “Virat Kohli, on the other hand, can play until 45, given his fitness. He is as fit as a 25-year-old,” he said. Srikkanth also made a strong appeal to the selectors to communicate clearly with the two veterans instead of leaving them in uncertainty. “Don't spook them. Don't instil fear. Leave them alone. I think you have to tell them that they are important for the team. Tell them to look after themselves. 'We will form the team around you. You two are very important. Please make sure you are fit enough'. I think this should be the thought process and communication. If they do it this way, it will be good for Team India and the two players,” he explained. Reflecting on his time as chief selector, Srikkanth said that if he were in charge today, he would have wasted no time in assuring the duo of their place in India’s long-term plans. “If I was the chairman of the selection committee, today itself I will go to them and say, 'Just be fit for the 2027 World Cup and win us the trophy',” he added. For Srikkanth, the message is simple — experience and consistency still matter, and both Kohli and Rohit remain vital to India’s hopes of lifting the next ODI World Cup.

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