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Robin Uthappa weighed in on the prospect of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma participating in the 2027 ODI World Cup, a topic that gained attention following remarks from newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir during a media session on Monday (July 22). With both cricketers nearing or past the age of 35, and the tournament still three years away, questions have arisen about their future in international limited-overs cricket.
Rohit Sharma will be 40 and Virat Kohli 39 by the time the next World Cup arrives, having recently retired from T20Is, which suggests they may play only a few more limited-overs matches. Consequently, many speculate that their involvement in the upcoming World Cup is uncertain.
Yet, Robin Uthappa holds a contrasting viewpoint. The former batsman believes that the decision regarding their participation in the World Cup should ultimately rest with Kohli and Rohit. Uthappa emphasized that given their significant contributions to Indian cricket, both players deserve the autonomy to decide when to conclude their careers.
“Yes, it depends. We are no one to question their legacy. The way they have served Indian cricket, I think they deserve the opportunity to control the narrative. I think both Rohit and Virat deserve the opportunity to hang their boots completely when they feel like it. Because they will always operate in the best interest of Indian cricket,” Robin Uthappa told Sports Tak.
“So I think as far as One Day World Cup is concerned, if Rohit and Virat will stay fit, there is no question about fitness as far as Virat is concerned. There is no question. I think it’s about desire and intent. It is about mental fitness, if they get fatigued or if they burn out, it all depends on that,” he added.
What if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sit out the next World Cup?
There’s a strong possibility that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might opt to retire before the next ODI World Cup. Their stellar performances in the previous World Cup underscored their pivotal roles in crucial matches.
Kohli topped the charts as the leading run-scorer, with Rohit closely following as the second-highest. Their potential departure would leave a significant void for Indian cricket to fill. Nevertheless, Robin Uthappa remains confident in India’s depth and believes they possess the firepower needed to step up and replace these legendary batsmen should they decide to step away from ODIs before the upcoming World Cup.
“They have just won the World Cup, so I think we will give them that time also. They can take it a year at a time. And if they choose not to play until then, then definitely there are players who will take up that mantle.
“We know the quality of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have not played in a T20 World Cup. So those players, we have that caliber. In our country, it’s a big blessing that there will never have a lack of high-quality players,” said Uthappa.
Previously, Gautam Gambhir expressed his confidence in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s potential to participate in the upcoming World Cup, highlighting that they still have ample cricketing mileage left in them. He emphasized that their presence in the tournament hinges on their ability to maintain their fitness levels.
