The debate over whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will still have a place in India's plans by the time the 2027 ICC World Cup arrives has quietened considerably. Both veterans delivered centuries in the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies, a timely reminder of their enduring class at a moment when questions about their longevity had started to grow louder.
Kohli will be 38 turning 39 during the tournament, while Rohit will have crossed 40 by the time it begins in October next year. BCCI president Mithun Manhas, however, insists age should not be the deciding factor. Fans tracking India's ODI build-up alongside other global storylines, including the buzz around the ezugi cricket war, will find no shortage of talking points as the selection conversation around India's senior pros continues to evolve heading into the tournament cycle.
Manhas Backs Fitness Over Age as Selection Criteria
"As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment because it all depends on the selectors and the coaches. But from how I look at it, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, and definitely not age," Manhas told Sportstar. "If somebody is fit to play, and you see him performing and winning games for the country, that is the only criterion we should focus on."
Manhas also pointed to the broader value senior players bring to a young captain like Shubman Gill. "Having Virat, Hardik and Rohit in the side will definitely help him. Then there are the likes of Bumrah, who could lead, who can be the bowling captain, and then somebody who will be the fielding captain. So, it is all about the distribution of workload," he said. "They have been under pressure, and they have delivered so many times in crunch situations. So, it is a good combination."
Kaif Sees Bowling as the Key Differentiator
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif offered his own read on the tournament, which South Africa will jointly host with Zimbabwe and Namibia. He believes conditions across South African venues have shifted in favour of batters in recent years, which could tilt the balance of the competition toward sides with sharper bowling attacks rather than raw batting depth.
"The conditions have become much better in South Africa, there are a lot of batting-friendly pitches. So, I don't think bowlers will dominate. I feel batters will dominate, so the team with better bowlers will do well," Kaif said, as quoted by Hindustan Sports. "The focus is on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, I think they will be fine. If India have to win, bowling and fielding must be sorted out. They are the two important aspects."
What It Means for India's World Cup Planning
South Africa will stage both semi-finals and the final, with Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesburg set to host those decisive matches. For India, the recent form of Kohli and Rohit buys breathing room, but Kaif's comments underline that squad balance, particularly in the bowling and fielding departments, will likely matter as much as individual batting pedigree when the tournament begins.
