India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has opined on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He mentioned that the tournament is still more than two years away and expressed confidence that the two seasoned batters, along with the team, will show strong form in the upcoming series against Australia.

“They are top-quality players, and their experience will be crucial. With the 2027 World Cup still over two years away, it’s important to concentrate on the present. Both Kohli and Rohit are outstanding players, and their return will be a significant advantage. I hope they have a successful tour, and more importantly, the team delivers a strong performance in the series against Australia,” Gambhir said.

Kohli and Rohit, who have been key players in India‘s white-ball cricket for nearly two decades, will return for the three-match ODI series against Australia beginning on 19 October. Rohit has focused on fitness in Mumbai, shedding around ten kilos, while Kohli worked on his batting in London.

Following India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, the two stalwarts bid farewell to T20Is and subsequently announced their retirement from Test cricket in May, limiting their availability to ODIs.

The biggest challenge is age and game time. They haven’t played since June. India will begin their ODI series against Australia in Perth on Sunday, with the remaining matches scheduled for Adelaide on 23 October and Sydney on 25 October. The one-day contests will be followed by a five-game T20I series, starting in Canberra on 29 October.