Gautam Gambhir responds to speculation over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future ahead of 2027 World Cup

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India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has offered clarity on the future of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in One-Day Internationals, amid rising curiosity about their potential roles in the 2027 ODI World Cup. In a recent interview with News18, Gambhir highlighted that long-term plans are still taking shape, and the team’s immediate attention is fixed on the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India in early 2026.

Addressing the speculation that followed the Test retirements of Kohli and Rohit, Gambhir urged fans and analysts not to jump too far ahead. The 2027 World Cup may be a landmark event, but Gambhir believes it’s too early to talk about squad plans for a tournament that’s still over two years away.

“We still have a T20 World Cup before that, and that itself is massive. It’s happening at home in February-March 2026, and that’s where our full focus lies. We’ll think about 2027 when the time comes,” Gambhir remarked.

Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense approach, made it clear that both experience and current form matter when considering players for future tournaments. He dismissed the notion that age alone would dictate a player’s career span.

“As I’ve said before, age doesn’t matter if you’re delivering results. Form and fitness will always be the top criteria,” he added.

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Both Rohit and Kohli last featured in ODIs during India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year. However, their participation in the next white-ball ICC event remains up in the air. With both players having already retired from T20Is after lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup, and now stepping away from Test cricket ahead of the England tour, their ODI trajectory is unclear.

Their decisions have triggered conversations about a generational shift in Indian cricket, but Gambhir maintained that the door remains open for anyone who proves their mettle, regardless of their age or past decisions.

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