Can Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play the 2027 World Cup? Saba Karim gives his verdict

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The roadmap for India’s transition in white-ball cricket has taken a fascinating turn as the focus shifts toward the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Following their departures from Test and T20 international formats, former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma now find One Day Internationals (ODIs) as their sole remaining gateway to international cricket. However, according to former India wicketkeeper and national selector Saba Karim, only one of these modern-day greats can currently be considered a guaranteed lock for the marquee tournament.

Speaking on the contrasting futures of India’s veteran anchors, Karim outlined that Rohit faces a much stiffer climb than Kohli to cement his spot for 2027. Karim emphasized that while Kohli’s immaculate physical conditioning and high-scoring form render him an automatic pick, the selection committee will be intensely scrutinizing the 39-year-old Indian skipper over the coming months.

“I think Rohit has to do a lot of hard work. He has to work on his fitness levels and on his batting performance, I think selectors will be keenly watching Rohit’s performance for the next six months to decide whether he can be part of the equation or not,” Karim told PTI.

The expert’s assessment comes on the heels of contrasting campaigns in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Kohli enjoyed a vintage season, amassing 675 runs to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the title. In stark contrast, Rohit endured a lean patch, managing just 283 runs across nine innings as the Mumbai Indians slumped to a ninth-place finish. Karim highlighted that Kohli’s ability to continually reinvent his game and preserve his elite fitness levels leaves him with nothing left to prove. Conversely, Rohit will need to demonstrate significant “heavy lifting” during India’s upcoming ODI assignments against England and Afghanistan to secure his place in the board’s long-term planning.

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The unfolding evaluation period for the 2027 World Cup coincides with immediate logistical hurdles for the national team. India are set to square off against Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series starting June 13. However, India’s squad depth will face an immediate test as Kohli has been officially ruled out of the series.

Medical evaluations revealed that Kohli suffered a rare distal semimembranosus tendon tear, an uncommon hamstring injury near the inside of the knee, during his match-winning, unbeaten 75 in the IPL final. While Kohli takes a mandatory two-week rest period to recuperate ahead of July’s high-profile tour of England, all eyes pivot back to Rohit. With senior figures like Kohli sidelined and ongoing fitness clouds hovering over other veterans, Rohit’s leadership, run-scoring consistency, and physical endurance over the next six months will serve as the ultimate litmus test for his 2027 World Cup aspirations.

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