“Just be fit for the 2027 World Cup and win us the trophy” - Former Indian selector’s message to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has backed the Indian talismanic batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2027, scheduled to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth has asserted that Rohit looked super fit, thanks to him losing more than 10 kgs of his weight during the off-season. Notably, he scored an unbeaten 121 in the SCG ODI against Australia as they sealed a consolation win in the third ODI.

"Rohit is a certainty for the 2027 World Cup. We can't play without him and Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma has lost 11 kgs and looks super fit. It was the old Rohit Sharma, with the touch game. He was batting with such ease and playing the ball so late," Srikkanth stated, speaking on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, he also added that the age factor shouldn’t come up when a player is in good form. He also felt that he had been brilliant on the field as well, adding that he played in the third and fourth gears instead of moving up to seventh or eighth gear.

"Don't bring up this whole age issue that he (Rohit) is touching 40. He's fit, batting well and catching brilliantly at slips. What else do you need? He's playing with such ease like he did in the 2019 World Cup. The only thing is he didn't get to the seventh or eighth gear and kept going at third and fourth gear," he added.

"If I were the chairman of the selection committee, today itself I will go to them and say, 'Just be fit for the 2027 World Cup and win us the trophy'," he concluded.

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