India’s white-ball veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma walk into the England ODI series with more than just batting responsibility; they carry the weight of proving they still belong. The series begins on July 14 with three matches, the second on July 16 and the decider on July 19. Both players, now settled in their approach to the 50-over game after walking away from Tests and T20Is, are early tests of their 2027 World Cup ambitions on this tour.
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Captain Gill Supports the Veterans
India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has backed the pair publicly, describing them as a “integral part” of the setup. Kohli revealed that he had already discussed the combinations for the 2027 World Cup ahead of the series opener with him, signalling that the leadership group still sees a role for the veterans in South Africa.
“I was in conversation with him about our plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup
Rohit keeps the top order steady while Kohli is yet to get a fitness clearance to return to the squad. Rohit recently became the oldest Indian to play an ODI and crossed 16,000 runs in international cricket, showing that age has not dulled his hunger for the game.
World Cup Chances Divided Among Experts
The cricketing fraternity remains divided in opinion. AB de Villiers, the former South Africa batter, has warned that neither of the players is guaranteed a place, pointing to Gill’s elevation to captaincy as an indication that the team management is looking past the two stalwarts. Former India opener Aakash Chopra and former captain Sourav Ganguly have both echoed similar sentiments saying that selection will be based only on current form and fitness, not reputation.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, however, has backed the duo strongly, calling them the “backbone” of India’s batting lineup and insisting that their recent ODI form warrants their continued selection through 2027.
