Gautam Gambhir Optimistic About Kohli and Rohit's Future in ODI World Cup 2027

Gambhir Discusses Kohli and Rohit's Potential for 2027 ODI World Cup

Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer and the current head coach, expressed his belief that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could still be contenders for the 2027 ODI World Cup, provided they maintain their high performance levels.

In a recent interview with a news channel, Gambhir shared his thoughts on the future of these two cricketing icons following their departures from T20 and Test formats.

"November-December 2027 is still two-and-a-half years away. And I've always said one thing – if you keep performing, age is just a number," Gambhir stated.

Despite stepping back from certain formats, both players remain eligible for ODI selection. Their vast experience and current form are crucial for India's strategy in the upcoming years.

"Look, it's still a long way away. We still have a T20 World Cup before that, and that is again a huge tournament that is going to happen in India, which is in February-March," he noted, emphasizing that performance should dictate selection rather than age.

Gambhir Advocates for Split Captaincy to Alleviate Pressure

In addition to discussing Kohli and Rohit's prospects, Gambhir also shared insights on India's leadership framework. He acknowledged that while having a single captain for all formats is preferable, it is often impractical given the busy cricket schedule.

"Ideally, as a coach, it is much easier to work with a guy if you have one captain for all formats but that hardly happens because you've got to realize in today's day and age, you can't have a captain captaining for 12 months a year," Gambhir explained.

He stressed the significance of managing mental fatigue, particularly for younger players who may face overwhelming leadership responsibilities.

"Imagine putting a young guy, captaining sides for 12 months, is putting a lot of toll on his mental health and on his game as well. Ideally, it is one but in today's day and age, it is always better to have two because that pressure can be distributed and it gets much easier for a player to be free when he's not captaining," he elaborated.

With the T20 World Cup approaching, Gambhir emphasized that the immediate focus is on that tournament. However, he reassured that the path to 2027 remains open for players like Rohit and Kohli, contingent on their continued performance.