'Kohli, Rohit need to play a serious amount of cricket to be considered for ODI World Cup 2027' - Former South African batter

Published - 06 Sept 2025, 18:52 IST | Updated - 06 Sept 2025, 19:05 IST

Indian legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in line to make their international comebacks during the upcoming ODI tour of Australia in October. The right-handed batters have retired from the two other formats of international cricket.

However, some reports suggest that the tour of Australia could be Rohit and Kohli's last dance in international cricket. While Rohit is 37 years old, Kohli is 36. Both cricketers have been working hard on their fitness, focusing on playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, if reports are to be believed, there is a cloud of uncertainty regarding their future in the 50-over format.

Former South African batter Daryll Cullinan feels that while Rohit and Kohli have enough experience to help them continue playing international cricket, they need to make themselves available in domestic matches to be ready for the physical and mental grind.

"Well, I think from an ability and experience point of view, they could play, I don't think there's any doubt in that, but they'd have to be on the ground of international cricket. If I were the coach or convener of selectors, because no matter how good you are, thinking that you can just play a few games or select a few games, not put in the hours and then step in and think you're going to perform, no, that doesn't work that way," he said in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy is set to be played in December-January, and it remains to be seen whether Rohit and Virat play this tournament before the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January. There have been suggestions for Rohit and Virat to play for India A in the ODI series in Kanpur this year against Australia A. Cullinan said that they must play a significant amount of cricket to prepare themselves for the World Cup.

"So it's a bit of a catch-22, I'm not saying they need to be on the circuit all the time, but they need to have played a serious amount of cricket, especially going into the World Cup, so they're in the right physical, mental frame of mind, the grind of international cricket, being fit, then I would say yes, but anything less than that I'd say no, India move on, because that certainly doesn't work, and that's in my view. They need to be playing quality cricket for the next two years! Far more cricket than less cricket," he added.

Cullinan also feels that it is time for head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar to appoint Shubman Gill as the captain of the ODI team. The cricketer-turned-expert opined that Rohit should play as a specialist batter at the top of the order.

"Yes, Gill for captaincy, irrespective of whether Rohit is playing," the 58-year-old cricketer-turned expert said.

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Rohit and Kohli have not played international cricket since the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in March.