Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden hundred in Vishakhapatnam, but Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remained India’s top batters in the ODI series against South Africa. Kohli scored two hundreds and a fifty, while Rohit made two half-centuries.
This performance comes after the Australia tour, where Rohit and Kohli were again India’s best batters. Age and retirement from the other formats aren’t stopping either of them as they continue to be India’s, if not the world’s, best players in ODIs. Yet, a sword swings over their heads.
Rohit-Kohli unconfirmed for 2027 ODI World Cup
Despite performing incredibly and already making domestic commitments, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rohit and Kohli haven’t been confirmed in Team India’s plan for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
After India clinched the series 2-1 in Vishakhapatnam, head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about where they stand. To begin with, he praises the veteran batters, having put on an incredible show with the bat against South Africa. But that wasn’t all.
“They are world-class players, and their experience is important in the dressing room. They’ve been doing it for a long time. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is going to be important in the 50-over format,” Gambhir told reporters after the match.
Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar had called Rohit and Kohli ‘non-committal’ for the ODI World Cup before, and Gambhir holds the same view, more or less. The head coach stated that it’s important for Team India to stay present and not plan for 2 years down the line, especially with young players waiting to make their mark.
“First, you have got to realise that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay in the present, and that young boys coming into the setup grab their opportunities,” he added.
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