Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan Here are our views on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's inclusion in the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 and what a difference their presence will bring to the Indian dressing room.
Kohli and Rohit are among the greatest white-ball players of all time, but they are in the second half of their great careers. There is continued speculation over his future in the ODI format with the major event being hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next year.
Pathan was asked about the presence of these two in the current Indian setup. Talking about Rohit, he said that the opener's game against fast bowling matches well with South Africa's bouncy and pace-friendly wickets.
“What abilities does Rohit Sharma bring with him? He plays the short ball very well. Cuts and pulls are his strengths. He gets time easily against short balls. That's what is going to happen in South Africa. You definitely get swinging conditions with the new ball, but you also get bounce, and who can take advantage of the bounce better than Rohit Sharma?” He replied.
Talking about Kohli, the former India fast bowler said that the right-handed batsman brings a lot of experience and will be needed in pressure situations.
Irfan said, “What does Virat bring with him? He brings his experience. No one can chase better than him in ODIs. His figures are unbelievable. If a wicket falls early, his experience at No. 3 will be useful, to play carefully and also to play long innings. You need this ability in South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Kohli may miss the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The RCB batsman had a stellar season, scoring 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.85, helping his team win the IPL title for the second consecutive season.
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