No guarantee Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will be there for 2027 World Cup: AB de Villiers

Dubai: Rohit Sharma may have recently lost the captaincy of Team India’s One-Day International (ODI) side to Shubman Gill, but both he and Virat Kohli have retained their spots for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on October 19. However, despite their inclusion, former South African cricket legend AB de Villiers believes that neither player’s place in the 2027 ODI World Cup is guaranteed.

After a seven-month absence, both Kohli and Rohit are returning to the ODI fold, but there’s growing uncertainty surrounding their future in the team. The Indian management is clearly focused on grooming younger players as they prepare for the next World Cup. De Villiers shared his thoughts on this transition, emphasising that the decision to appoint Gill as captain is a clear sign that India is looking ahead to the future, possibly without Kohli and Rohit.

“It’s not certain that both of them will be there for the next World Cup,” De Villiers said. “That could be part of the reason behind making Shubman Gill the ODI captain. He’s young, in incredible form, and already showing leadership qualities. Having both Rohit and Virat around will be fantastic for him, though. They’ll be there to guide him, and that will only benefit Gill as he continues to evolve into a top player. With the series coming up, we can expect some high-quality, entertaining cricket.”

Consistent performance

He also pointed out that for Kohli and Rohit to feature in the 2027 World Cup, they will need to maintain their form consistently. “It’s great to see them back in the ODI side. They’re likely holding on for another shot at the World Cup. But whether that actually happens depends on their form. There’s a long way to go, and they’ll need to keep performing. It’s a lot of work to still be at the top in 2027. Form will be the key, and they need to keep scoring runs. The selectors should send that message loud and clear. No matter how legendary they are, they’ll still need to prove themselves.”

De Villiers also touched on Kohli’s excellent form in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he scored a brilliant century against Pakistan and a match-winning 84 in the semi-final against Australia. Rohit, on the other hand, struggled through most of the tournament but made a strong comeback in the final with a crucial 76 against New Zealand. Despite their individual performances, Rohit has lost the captaincy.