BCCI President Emphasizes Performance Over Age for 2027 World Cup Selection

BCCI's Stance on Player Selection

In a significant announcement regarding the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, Mithun Mahas, the president of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), stated that the selection of renowned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be based on their performance and fitness rather than their age.

During an interview with a sports publication just before the New Zealand tour, Mahas expressed, 'In my opinion, the only criteria for selection should be fitness and performance, not age. If a player is fully fit, consistently scoring runs, and helping the team win matches, that should be the sole focus for selection.'

Age Considerations for the 2027 World Cup

As the ODI World Cup is set to take place in October-November 2027, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, Rohit Sharma will be 40 years old, while Virat Kohli will be 38. Both players have retired from T20I and Test cricket in the last 24 months and are now aiming to secure their final ODI World Cup trophy.

Guidance for Captain Shubman Gill

Discussing the transition within the Indian team, the BCCI president noted that the presence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya will be invaluable under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.

He drew parallels with former Indian captains, stating that just as Sourav Ganguly learned from MS Dhoni and Dhoni from Kohli, Gill will benefit greatly from the experience of these seasoned players. Additionally, bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah can help ease the captain's burden by leading the bowling unit.

Upcoming New Zealand Tour

The Indian team is set to kick off a multi-format series against New Zealand starting October 22, which will include 5 T20s, 5 ODIs, and 2 Test matches. All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's performances during the ODI series scheduled from November 4 to 15.