Will Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma play the ICC ODI World Cup 2027? AB de Villiers opens up

Former South African batter and analyst AB de Villiers has opened up on the Indian selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, elevating Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain for the forthcoming Australian tour, starting on October 19 Down Under.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former cricketer asserted that it’s not a guarantee to have the talismanic batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma at the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. However, he went on to heap praises on Gill, the new ODI captain.

"It’s not a guarantee both of them will be there for that next World Cup. That’s maybe part of the thinking when they made Shubman Gill the ODI captain. He has a good chance of being there, young gun, in incredible form and a fantastic leader. I think this was the right move, to still have Rohit and Virat,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube Channel.

“Shubman Gill will learn from two of the most experienced Indian players of all time, high quality, legendary players. It will be fantastic for Shubman to have them around. It will be for the tour which is around the corner actually. So, we will be bucking up for some high-entertainment and a great series,” he added.

Additionally, AB further felt that the Indian talismanic duo of Kohli and Rohit needs to keep their form and fitness intact, with limited ODIs being played of late to find themselves available for the forthcoming ICC mega event in 2027.

"They find themselves in the ODI side. I think that is the reason they are hanging on, to play another World Cup for Team India. It’s great to see. Whether it’s going to happen, I don’t know. Honestly? Form dependent or are they playing enough cricket? It will take a lot from them to be there in 2027,” he stated.

“Still a long way away. It’s not that far but it’s not so close. There’s lots of cricket to be played and form to be kept. They’ve got to score runs and that should be the message from the selectors. As big as legends they are, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will walk into my team and I will play them without looking at where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing,” he concluded.

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