'It won't be easy' - Former India skipper reflects upon chances of Rohit-Virat duo in ODI World Cup 2027
Sourav Ganguly feels it won’t be easy for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the 2027 World Cup. With age and many matches ahead, staying fit and ready will be a big challenge for both.
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Sourav Ganguly: 2027 World Cup Won’t Be Easy for Rohit and Kohli
Sourav Ganguly has said that the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup won’t be as easy for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as many people think. Their recent retirement from Test cricket just a week apart made headlines and gave fans hope that the two legends are saving their energy for one last World Cup. But Ganguly feels it’s not that simple.
By the time the next World Cup arrives, Kohli will be 39 and Rohit will be 40. Staying fit and match-ready at that age is tough. Even though they won’t be playing Tests or T20s anymore, Ganguly pointed out that they’ll still need to play around 27 ODIs before the tournament, and maybe even more if the schedule changes.
“It’s not going to be easy. Playing 15 ODIs a year is a lot,” Ganguly said. “I don’t need to give them advice they know the game well. But we all have to accept that one day, they will walk away from cricket, and the game will move on too.”
Ganguly predicts it's difficult for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma till 2027.
— Forever_ICT (@loyal_cskian) June 22, 2025
With only handful of matches every year now. Each match performance matters since there is a lot of competition nowpic.twitter.com/e6Ao5Gx76w
Besides ODIs, Rohit and Kohli will also play in the IPL. It may not directly help their ODI form, but staying on the field and playing competitive cricket will definitely help them stay sharp. Their decision to retire from Test cricket also makes sense. Rohit’s Test form had dipped, and Kohli struggled with balls outside off stump, especially in Australia. Playing all formats was becoming harder with age.
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Still, they are both very strong in ODIs. In the recent Champions Trophy, Kohli scored 218 runs with a century, while Rohit scored 180, including a vital 76 in the final. They also did well in the 2023 World Cup at home. With series in Australia and New Zealand coming up, it won’t be easy. But if they stay fit and focused, winning the 2027 World Cup could be the perfect way to end their amazing careers.
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