Sanath Jayasuriya Supports Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has voiced his support for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He believes their experience will be invaluable for younger players in the team. Both players have had illustrious careers, with Rohit being a standout performer in previous World Cups and Kohli holding impressive records in ODIs. As discussions about their future in the format arise, Jayasuriya emphasizes the importance of having seasoned players in the squad for the benefit of the team's future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 21, 2026, 00:02 IST

Jayasuriya Backs Indian Legends for Future World Cups

By Vivek Prabhakar Singh

Gurugram (Haryana), September 20: Former Sri Lankan cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya has expressed his support for Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He believes that their presence will greatly benefit younger players, allowing them to gain invaluable experience.

Speaking at the launch of the Corporate Cricket World Cup in Gurugram, Jayasuriya, renowned for his explosive batting and all-round capabilities, highlighted the importance of having seasoned players in the squad. Rohit and Virat, aged 39 and 37 respectively, have transitioned to being ODI-exclusive players after retiring from Test cricket in May last year and T20Is following India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The current lack of ODI matches has sparked discussions regarding their future in the format. Jayasuriya commented, “Team India has a blend of youth and experience. Having senior players like Rohit and Virat is beneficial for the younger generation, as they can learn a lot from them. This mix is essential for India's prospects in upcoming World Cups.”

Rohit has participated in three World Cups from 2015 to 2023, consistently excelling, notably being the top scorer in the 2019 tournament with 648 runs, which included five centuries and a fifty.

He ranks as the fourth-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, amassing 1,575 runs in 28 matches at an impressive average of 60.57, featuring seven centuries—the highest by any player in World Cup history—and six fifties.

In ODIs, Rohit stands as India's third-highest run-scorer, accumulating 11,895 runs in 288 matches at an average of 48.95, with 34 centuries and 62 fifties.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, is the second-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, with 1,795 runs in 37 matches at an average of 59.83, including five centuries and 12 fifties.

With a staggering total of 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs at an average of 58.59, including 54 centuries and 79 fifties, Kohli is often regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.

His remarkable ability in run-chases is evident, having scored 6,235 runs in 111 matches at an average of 89.07, which includes 24 centuries and 29 fifties.

This year, Kohli has accumulated 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64.00, boasting a strike rate exceeding 106, with one century and three fifties. Rohit has faced some fluctuations, scoring 379 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.11, including a century and a fifty, with his highest score being 138 against England at Lord's.