“I had a long chat with Rohit Sharma” - Irfan Pathan opens up on Rohit & Kohli’s ODI future

Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has opened up on the veteran batting duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in the One Day Internationals ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2027.

Speaking exclusively on Sony Sports Network, Irfan stated that he had a long chat with the Indian ODI skipper Rohit about his future plans, adding that he is very keen to continue playing the format. 

However, Irfan asserted that the main challenge for both the Indian talismanic batters would be to remain fit by playing very few games until the start of the ICC mega event in 2027. However, if they overcome this major challenge, Pathan feels he could see the duo playing the mega event.

"I had a long chat with him about his future plans. He’s very keen to continue playing. Every player wants that, especially someone like him who has done so well. He’s been a fantastic leader and one of our greatest in white-ball cricket. We all remember the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final, especially for him. Those emotions matter, but he still wants to carry on and make his mark going forward," he said.

“As long as the players are fit, age doesn’t really matter. The real challenge will be getting enough game time before the 2027 World Cup. There are going to be long gaps in ODI cricket until then—2025 is ongoing, 2026 will come, and then 2027...Playing for India has never been about motivation for players like Rohit, Virat, or Shami—that will always be there. The issue is purely about how much cricket they get to play, especially since they’ve retired from Tests and T20Is. If they manage to stay fit and overcome the challenge of limited game time, I don’t see any reason why they can’t continue until the 2027 World Cup,” he added.

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