Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary cricketer, is a bit skeptical about whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will play in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2027_Cricket_World_Cup">2027 ODI World Cup</a>. In a recent interview with India Today, he mentioned that although both players have had incredible careers in one-day cricket, their age and the high demands of the game today might hold them back from being part of the team for such a significant event, even though it’s still two years away.
Both Rohit and Virat recently announced their retirements from Test cricket—Rohit on May 7 and Virat on May 12. This follows their decision to step back from T20 internationals after India’s impressive victory in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Men%27s_T20_World_Cup">2024 T20 World Cup</a>. The two have been key players in India’s success in white-ball formats. They helped the team win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_ICC_Champions_Trophy">Champions Trophy</a> in Pakistan, where India went unbeaten throughout the tournament. During the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Cricket_World_Cup">2023 ODI World Cup</a>, they took the team to the finals, maintaining an undefeated record until the last match. Their experience and leadership have made them vital to India’s batting lineup for many years.
<h2 data-start="1167" data-end="1221">Rohit Sharma’s Fitness, Virat Kohli’s Form Major Concerns</h2>
<figure id="attachment_151380" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-151380" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-151380" src="http://www.kreedon.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/images-3-3.jpeg" alt="virat kohli retirement" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://www.kreedon.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/images-3-3.jpeg 300w, https://www.kreedon.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/images-3-3-150x84.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-151380" class="wp-caption-text">Image: Mint</figcaption></figure>
Gavaskar thinks the crucial question is whether these players can keep up their high-intensity game in the future. He recognized what they&#8217;ve accomplished but stressed the importance of looking ahead. In an interview with Sports Today on May 12, he mentioned that the selection committee will probably evaluate whether they can still deliver the same level of performance. “If they can, they&#8217;ll be chosen. Personally, I doubt they&#8217;ll still be around in 2027,” Gavaskar shared.
That said, he didn’t close the door on possibilities, suggesting that if they find their form again and start scoring centuries, it would be hard to overlook them. However, this seems like a slim chance, particularly since they’ve recently decided to step back from two significant formats.
By 2027, Rohit will be 40 and Virat will be 38. Rohit&#8217;s fitness is a big issue, especially since he hasn’t been active in the field during <a href="https://www.kreedon.com/ipl-2025-final-likely-on-may-30-as-bcci-plans-revised-schedule">IPL 2025</a>. Virat, on the other hand, has shown signs of struggling, especially at the start of his innings. These elements raise questions about their roles in India&#8217;s ODI future.
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Sunil Gavaskar Doubts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s 2027 World Cup Chances