The former Indian World Cup-winning captain, MS Dhoni, has noted on the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the two star batters, heading into the ODI World Cup 2027, scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Both these veterans only feature in the ODIs for the blue brigade, having retired from the longest and shortest formats of the game. 

During a recent interaction on Mahi Unplugged with Jatin Sapru, Dhoni joked and pretended not to hear the question first, before revealing that fitness won’t be a factor for Virat Kohli and Rohit playing in the next ODI World Cup.

See Also: “What worries me…”- MS Dhoni reacts to India’s chances in T20 World Cup 2026

“Why not? Listen, the thing is—why should somebody not play the next World Cup? For me, age is not a criteria. Performance and fitness are the criteria. I always feel nobody should be told anything, but things should be clear: everyone will be treated the same way. When I made my debut, I was 24. Nobody came and told me anything then.” Dhoni expressed in the event.

MS Dhoni seeks Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play ODI WC 2027

Kohli has been in rich form with several centuries in the previous two home centuries against South Africa and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Rohit, apart from the struggling Kiwi series, celebrated three fifties and one century in the six games against Australia and the Proteas.

Watch the video here: 

🚨 MS Dhoni wants Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli for the 2027 World Cup

MS Dhoni: Why should they not play? For me age is not the criteria, performance and fitness are. Just because someone is in their 30s, deciding whether they can play or not isn’t for us. There is always a need… pic.twitter.com/Z8QDRNzGMo

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) February 4, 2026

“So now, if I’m playing for India for one year, two years, ten years, or twenty years—whatever it is—nobody needs to come and tell me about my age. Is age a factor? No. Is fitness a factor? Yes, fitness is a factor. Even if you’re 22, if you’re not fit, you shouldn’t be there; there are criteria for playing international cricket.” Dhoni addressed. 

“When it comes to whether it’s Rohit, Virat, or other names that will come forward in three, five, or ten years, the whole thing is this: just because somebody is in their 30s, it’s not for us to decide whether they can play the next World Cup. It’s for them to decide. If they keep performing and have the urge to do well for the country, then why not?” The Ranchi-born concluded.

Even though Delhi didn’t qualify for the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26, their rising star, Ayush Doseja, cracked an unbeaten knock of 159 runs to help his side force a draw against Mumbai. He also ended up being the leading run-getter of the group-stage with 949 runs in 12 innings at an average of 105.44, thanks to four centuries and five half-centuries at the best score of 209 runs.

Doseja has expressed his desire to emulate the discipline and fitness of the Indian icon, Virat Kohli, whom he idolizes. He believes that adopting the professional routine is vital for maintaining the high level of performance he showed in the breakout year.

See Also: South Africa betrayed as Michael Vaughan names T20 World Cup 2026 semifinalists

“I have been idolizing him since childhood. When he was out in the second match (of the Vijay Hazare Trophy), I got some time to talk to him. He told me that if I am going to the ground, I have to give 200 percent because you are representing Delhi and it is a big deal. If I want to play for India, I have to keep the same mindset.” The Delhi batter expressed after the game against Mumbai.

Ayush Doseja reveals Virat Kohli's suggestion after dominance in Ranji Trophy 2025/26

Doseja proved to be a model of consistency by recording the centuries and fifties in seven outings. His ability to anchor the innings established him as one of the strongest players in the domestic circuit.

“(Kohli said) ‘If you are going to the ground, you have to dominate and not play in survival mode’. This was the message, and I followed his fitness regime a lot and spoke about it as well. I also try to keep a good diet and keep myself match-fit as much as possible.” The 23-year-old shed light.

“I went to him myself. Sarfaraz is such a big player in domestic cricket, and I asked him how I can improve in red soil. I try to become a three-format player. I prepare equally in white-ball. He told me that in red soil, if you bat with your head down, it will be better (and that way) you would hit fewer casual shots because it bounces. He said I could vary my game in red soil and black soil, but that I have to see in the middle.” The Delhi batter concluded.

The Pakistan national cricket team star batter Babar Azam established a new T20I record on Sunday by surpassing Virat Kohli to become the player with the most T20I half-centuries. The landmark achievement occurred when Pakistan completed their 3–0 series victory against Australia by winning the final match in Lahore which strengthened their confidence before the T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam’s milestone knock powers Pakistan to dominant series sweep

Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 50 during the third T20I match which established Pakistan's dominant batting performance and brought his total T20I half-centuries to 39 which made him the all-time player with most half-centuries in the format. His batting performance helped the team establish momentum after losing their first wickets by building a strong foundation which led to their successful conclusion. Pakistan finished their innings with a total of 207 runs for 6 wickets which proved to be an unreachable target for Australia.

The match itself turned into a one-sided affair. The Australian team lost its batting rhythm when Shaheen Shah Afridi took his first wicket and then Mohammad Nawaz destroyed their batting order by achieving his best T20I performance of 5 wickets for 18 runs. Pakistan achieved a decisive 111-run victory over Australia when they dismissed the visiting team for 96 runs in their third T20I series which marked the third time Pakistan had achieved a clean sweep against Australia in T20I matches after their previous successes in 2010 and 2018.

ALSO SEE: Former RCB star to be named Afghanistan's mentor for T20 World Cup 2026

Babar explained during the post-game interview that players need to understand how to read pitch conditions because this skill helps them execute match plans better than achieving personal records. He praised Saim Ayub for his aggressive batting style at the beginning of the innings and he thanked the Lahore audience for their continuous support throughout the entire match series.

Most half-centuries in T20I cricket

Ayub started the match with an impressive 56 runs from 37 balls while Shadab Khan scored 46 runs from 19 balls during his late batting attack to help Pakistan reach their final overs as they achieved 70 runs in their last five overs. The Australian team accepted their complete defeat after the captain Salman Ali Agha described the series as nearly perfect. 

Pakistan received its best possible timing for their emphatic series victory which included Babar's record-setting performance because the T20 World Cup will start on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell shared a heartfelt moment of admiration after receiving a signed jersey from India’s batting icon Virat Kohli, following the conclusion of the recently finished India vs New Zealand ODI series. The gesture came just minutes after New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs in the third ODI, sealing the three-match series 2–1.

Mitchell maintained his excellent performance during the series while showing great respect for Kohli because he considered the jersey to be a valuable item that he would keep for life. “It’ll definitely be framed somewhere in the office for many years to come. I’ve got so much respect for Virat for how he plays the game, how he does it day in, day out for almost two decades now,” Mitchell told Hindustan Times. He admitted to being inspired by the Indian superstar while he described Kohli's batting style and his general approach toward playing cricket.

Mitchell delivered an exceptional performance during the match. He tormented the Indian bowling attack with two centuries in the series and played a pivotal role in the decider, scoring a commanding 137 off 131 balls to help New Zealand post a daunting total of 337 runs. His consistency and composure earned him the Player of the Series award, having amassed 352 runs at a staggering average of 176.

ALSO SEE: Star RCB pacer likely to miss early phase of the T20 World Cup 2026; replacement announced

Kohli’s lone century, heartfelt gesture cap off historic New Zealand series win

The statement needs to be rephrased with simpler language and more complex sentence structures which will maintain the same word count and HTML elements. The Indian cricket team relied on Kohli for their third consecutive test match. He scored his 54th ODI century by reaching 124 runs from 108 balls to chase a difficult target. India lost the match because their players kept getting out while the opposing team succeeded in taking all their wickets to finish the game at 296 runs.

The post-match scenes, however, captured the spirit of the game. Kohli walked across to the New Zealand camp, handed Mitchell his signed jersey, and shared a warm embrace - an act that highlighted mutual respect beyond the fierce on-field rivalry.

New Zealand’s series victory marked a historic achievement because it became their first-ever ODI series win on Indian territory. The match result proved difficult for the home team to accept but Kohli's act of goodwill toward Mitchell showed them the proper way to conduct themselves in international cricket.

The process of scoring runs in T20 cricket presents one challenge to players. The ability to maintain peak performance for enough time to achieve 3000 international T20 runs stands as a different athletic achievement. The T20 format requires players to take risks while they bat at high speeds which continuously change the game. 

Every player demonstrates a different part of India's T20 development which includes three main elements of their performance.

Indian Players to Score 3000 T20I Runs

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli became the first Indian player to achieve the 3000-run milestone in T20 International matches which established a standard that demonstrated India's early success in the cricket format. Kohli proved himself as the most dependable run producer during a period when T20 cricket had not yet established its proper combination of aggressive and stable playing styles. His ability to control innings, especially during run chases, made him indispensable to India’s T20 setup for over a decade.

Kohli distinguished himself from others because he performed consistently well when situations became challenging. While strike rates fluctuated across conditions and opponents, his output rarely dipped. Kohli took on different roles that included opening, batting at No. 3, and finishing games with complete ease. His 3000 T20I runs were built on discipline, fitness, and an unmatched hunger for runs, which made him the mainstay of India's T20 batting lineup over an extended period.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma achieved his 3,000 T20I runs through a combination of graceful batting and powerful hitting abilities. Rohit showed the cricket world a new way for openers to play the shortest format because of his natural ability to hit various types of shots. He could take apart opponent bowling systems after he reached his batting target because he used his timing skills to hit home runs without using excessive strength.

ALSO SEE: Top 5 bowlers with the best bowling figures in men’s T20 World Cup history ft. Sam Curran

Rohit brought more than his personal talent to the game because he contributed to team success. He led his team by promoting aggressive batting methods at the beginning of matches while keeping his team calm during intense situations. His three T20I centuries demonstrated how he excelled at converting his batting opportunities into victory runs. His 3,000 run milestone demonstrated his combination of career durability and exceptional skills which helped India establish its T20 batting style.

Suryakumar Yadav

The 3,000-run club marks a new era for Indian T20 batting after Suryakumar Yadav achieved this milestone. Suryakumar became the fastest player in T20 history to reach 3,000 runs because he achieved this milestone at a speed that no one else had accomplished before. He began his career at the same time that T20 cricket began to adopt its current extremely aggressive playing style.

Suryakumar stands out because he approaches the game without fear while possessing exceptional abilities to execute various batting techniques. He begins his assault against bowlers from the first delivery of the match, which he does against all teams and in all game situations, and his quick success leads to changes in match outcomes during the initial overs.

The 3,000 runs he achieved serve as proof of his achievements, which he built through his innovative approaches and self-assurance and his competitive attitude that represents India's present T20 playing style.

Frequently Asked Question

1. How many Indian players have scored 3000 runs in T20 Internationals?

Only three Indian batters have reached the 3000-run mark in T20Is Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav.

2. Why is scoring 3000 T20I runs considered a major achievement?

T20 cricket demands high strike rates, constant risk-taking, and consistency. Maintaining form long enough to reach 3000 runs reflects durability, adaptability, and elite-level performance across different conditions and opponents.

3. What made Virat Kohli’s 3000 T20I runs special?

Virat Kohli was the first Indian to reach the milestone. His runs came through consistency, chase mastery, and role flexibility, making him India’s most reliable T20 batter for over a decade.

4. How did Rohit Sharma build his 3000 T20I runs?

Rohit Sharma combined timing, elegance, and power-hitting. As an opener, he redefined aggressive starts in T20s while also converting big innings into match-winning performances.

5. Why is Suryakumar Yadav’s entry into the 3000-run club unique?

Suryakumar Yadav became the fastest player in T20I history to reach 3000 runs. His fearless, 360-degree batting perfectly represents the modern aggressive era of T20 cricket.

6. What do these three players represent in India’s T20 evolution?

Together, Kohli, Rohit, and Suryakumar showcase three phases of India’s T20 journey stability and consistency, explosive opening dominance, and ultra-aggressive modern batting.

The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with 20 teams battling for the ultimate prize. From February 7 to March 8, there are going to be 55 incredibly intense matches before a champion is crowned in the tournament. India has a fantastic history in this tournament; they were crowned the champions of this event twice (once in 2007 when the tournament began and then again in 2024) demonstrating that they are the top team of T20 cricket.

The T20 World Cups have produced several amazing moments throughout its many tournaments and some of the greatest finishes in sports history. England and West Indies have also won the T20 World Cup Championship two times; Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have all won the championship one time each. With the upcoming 10th T20 World Cup being played, now is a great time to look back on three of the best finals that have helped to create the legacy of this global tournament since its first tournament.

See Also: Irish legend Paul Striling breaks Rohit Sharma's T20I record

Here are the top 3 greatest T20 World Cup finals of all time

3. India vs South Africa, 2024

India and South Africa faced off in a thrilling final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, with both sides fully deserving of a shot at the title. After winning the toss at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Rohit Sharma chose to bat first on a challenging surface. India found themselves in early trouble at 34/3, but Virat Kohli’s composed 76 off 59 balls steadied the innings. His knock helped India recover strongly and post a competitive total of 176/7 from their 20 overs.

South Africa’s chase began shakily with the loss of two early wickets, yet they stayed in the contest through crucial contributions from Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and Heinrich Klaasen. Their efforts brought the target down to 30 runs needed from the final five overs. However, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah delivered under pressure at the death. In the final over, Pandya defended 16 runs, with Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning long-off catch sealing a dramatic seven-run victory for India.

2. India vs Pakistan, 2007

India and Pakistan had already produced a classic encounter earlier in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where MS Dhoni’s side edged past their arch-rivals in a dramatic bowl-out. Fate brought the two teams together once again in the final at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Batting first, India posted a competitive 157/5, built around a superb 75 off 54 balls from Gautam Gambhir. Rohit Sharma’s composed 30 towards the end ensured India crossed the 150-run mark on the big occasion.

Pakistan’s chase stayed alive despite early pressure, with Irfan Pathan’s incisive bowling setting the tone for India. Misbah-ul-Haq held the innings together and brought Pakistan close, leaving 13 runs to defend in the final over. Joginder Sharma, entrusted with the task, held his nerve despite early drama. After conceding a six, he induced a mistimed ramp from Misbah, which Sreesanth safely caught, sealing a memorable five-run win and India’s first T20 World Cup title.

1. West Indies vs England, 2016

The 2016 T20 World Cup final remains one of the most thrilling matches the game has ever witnessed, thanks to its unforgettable finish. Played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the West Indies won the toss and chose to field first. England posted a fighting total of 155/9 in their 20 overs, anchored by a fluent half-century from Joe Root. On a slow surface that made stroke-making difficult, England’s batters had to work hard to put up a competitive score.

During the chase, Marlon Samuels provided stability as wickets fell around him, holding the innings together under pressure. The equation came down to a dramatic final over, with 19 runs needed from six balls. Carlos Brathwaite, facing Ben Stokes, produced a moment for the ages by smashing four consecutive sixes to seal a stunning victory. The triumph made West Indies the first team to win the T20 World Cup twice, with Samuels finishing unbeaten on 85 and earning Player of the Match honors.

Currently, Virat Kohli fans and Indian cricket fans are in shock with Virat Kohli's unavailability on Instagram, as suddenly his Instagram account cannot be found on this particular social media platform. 

Virat Kohli: Not a cricket icon, but a global influencer

Virat Kohli fans are celebrating after the news revealed that the legendary Indian cricketer and former Indian captain became the second most influential person in the present world on Instagram, according to the latest HypeAuditor rankings. The right-handed batter isn't only a cricket icon, but a global influencer. While Kohli has some strong global brands, worldwide famous influencers also follow him. 

Amid this good news, Kohli fans are shocked to know that his Instagram account is currently deactivated. There is no official information about the reason for this, as we still don't know whether it is a mistake from Instagram, which we experienced previously for many popular Instagram accounts, or the legendary Indian cricketer himself has made the decision to delete the account. However, Kohli's other official social media accounts are currently active. 

See Also: Fans target Instagram for deactivating Virat Kohli's Instagram account

Relations between Virat Kohli and cricket's return to the Olympics

Meanwhile, why is the question suddenly coming that cricket would be doubtful for the upcoming Olympics? The global popularity of Virat Kohli was one of the reasons for cricket's return to the Summer Olympics, as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will welcome the game after 128 years. 

Talking about the game's return to the Olympics, LA Local Organising Committee (LALOG) director Niccolo Campriani credited Kohli's popularity on social media accounts. 

As Kohli's Instagram account has been deactivated, there are some questions arising about whether it can affect cricket's status for the upcoming Olympics. It is very unlikely to affect the game's status in the Olympics return. However, Kohli's present Instagram absence is still shocking. 

It’s nearly midnight in India, and the biggest news of the country is that the former Indiancaptain and the most renowned current player of the game, Virat Kohli, has deactivated his Instagram account as the news spread in a flash. He is one of the most popular on social media, which is quite an important factor for the stars and the celebrities. 

Virat Kohli is one of the most influential people in the present world on Instagram. The latest status says that he is currently not on Instagram. His X account (formerly known as Twitter) is although active with 65.9 followers. Quite surprisingly, his brother, Vikas, has also deactivated his Instagram account, which has actually grown the speculation even more.

See Also: Virat Kohli deactivates his official Instagram account: Know the actual reason behind this

There is no clear information about the reason, but Kohli’s fans have targeted Instagram for deleting the star’s account. They feel that Instagram themselves have deleted the account, which could actually be a glitch though.

Virat Kohli deactivates his Instagram account as fans show anger on Instagram

Kohli, who has retired from both the Tests and T20Is, has only been part of the ODIs and keeps his eyes on the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. He currently has smashed 14797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93.82, with the help of 54 centuries and 77 half-centuries at the best score of 183 runs against Pakistan in Mirpur.

🚨 Virat Kohli and his brother, Vikas Kohli, have both deactivated their Instagram accounts.

I hope everything is fine. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sMA7dPHcFx

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) January 29, 2026

Virat kohli has deactivated his Instagram Account 💀💀💀💔 pic.twitter.com/ipxIhMQTuH

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) January 29, 2026

He was recently part of the New Zealand series at home which the blue brigade went on to lose by a 2-1 margin. He was excellent in his performance with the bat, having collected 93 runs in the opening fixture before putting a sensational knock of 124 at Holkar Stadium in Indore. But he failed to take India home in that clash.

“I’m in an interesting phase with social media. Right now, I don’t feel like engaging too much. I think it definitely needed a reset.” Kohli said in the past on being asked why he had hidden his promotional posts on the social media.

Former Indian captain and legendary batter Virat Kohli is one of the most influential people on Instagram. However, currently, many Kohli fans are shocked to know that Virat Kohli's Instagram account is unavailable. 

See Also: Fans target Instagram for deactivating Virat Kohli's Instagram account

Virat Kohli's Instagram account deactivated

There is no official information yet. We don't know whether Kohli himself deleted his Instagram account, or it is a mistake from Instagram, as we experienced previously that some Instagram accounts were suddenly deactivated, including many popular influencers. Later, many accounts returned, as many Kohli fans are hoping for the same luck. 

Virat Kohli is influential with strong brand presence

Virat Kohli is still an active cricketer, as he still dominates the ODI format, while already retired from the T20I and Test formats. He has a huge influence on and off the field, as he has huge brand value, while he has over 274 million followers on Instagram. He is not only a cricket influencer, but he is also growing as a global influencer, while many popular foreign influencers also follow him. 

According to some recent social media posts, Kohli earns more than INR 10 crore per post on Instagram.

On Thursday (January 29), there was a report for the latest HypeAuditor rankings, where Virat Kohli was shown in the second position in the list of most influential people in the world on Instagram at present, behind legendary Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most popular on social media. While social media is now an important matter for stars and celebrities, there is big news about Virat Kohli's social media account. Recently, Virat Kohli's Instagram account couldn't be seen.

Virat kohli has deactivated his Instagram Account 💀💀💀💔 pic.twitter.com/ipxIhMQTuH

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) January 29, 2026

Virat Kohli is one of the most influential people in the present world on Instagram. However, according to the latest status, Kohli's Instagram account is unavailable.

Is virat kohli Instagram account deleted by Instagram? 

There is no clear information about Kohli's Instagram page status, whether he deleted it or there is a glitch on Instagram. Even his brother Vikas Kohli's Instagram account is also missing, which creates more shock to the Indian legendary batter's fans. 

Virat Kohli is one of the most influential people in the social media world, with more than 270 million Instagram followers. According to some recent media reports, the former Indian captain earns more than US$ 1.4 million per sponsored post on his Instagram account. 

Just before Kohli's latest Instagram account shock, he was named as the second most influential person in the world on Instagram right now, according to the latest HypeAuditor rankings, while Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is only ahead of Kohli.