The Next Chapter: Why India Should Look Beyond Rohit and Virat for the 2027 ODI World Cup

Let’s be honest — Indian cricket fans have enjoyed the legendary Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rewrite records, carry the team on their shoulders, and rule world cricket for over a decade already. With the 2027 ODI World Cup fast approaching, it’s time to pause and ask the big question: Are Rohit and Virat still the right fit for India’s future lineup? Their past is great, but Indian cricket may benefit from turning the page. Here is a case for why the 2027 World Cup should not feature this legendary pair — and why that may be a good thing.

Age Isn’t Just a Number Anymore

In cricket, experience is gold — but when your two biggest stars will be pushing 40, the age factor becomes hard to ignore. Rohit Sharma will be 40 and Virat Kohli 38 when the next World Cup rolls around in November 2027. That’s not just a stat — it’s a concern for fitness, form, and consistency.

Let’s not forget, both of them have already stepped away from T20Is and Tests. Their only active format is ODIs, and they haven’t played competitively since IPL 2025. That’s a long time without regular match practice. The modern game demands peak physicality, and expecting two aging stars to maintain that level — without constant competitive cricket — is a risky bet.

Sure, they could still perform, but should India plan a four-year strategy around two players who are clearly at the tail-end of their careers? It’s a gamble with too much at stake.

Also read:- Who Could India Drop for the West Indies Tests—And Why Their Spot Isn’t Safe Anymore

Limited ODI Fixtures Mean Limited Chances

Here’s the kicker — India’s got just 27 ODIs on the calendar before the 2027 World Cup rolls around. That might sound like a decent number, but not when you’re trying to build a squad for a world title.

The majority of these matches are against lower-tier sides as well. I get that there are series against Australia and South Africa coming up, but besides that, we are going to play Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Afghanistan. Not exactly what I would want as prep for testing veteran legs, or training future leaders.

If Kohli and Rohit take up most of those games, it leaves little opportunity to give the youngsters a proper run. And if they skip them to stay fresh, how do you justify including two part-time cricketers in a high-stakes World Cup squad?

Rising Stars Are Poised — and Eager to Shine

Remember the recently concluded England Test series? No Kohli. No Rohit. No Pujara. No Ashwin. Still, India fought back to level the series 2-2, displaying impressive grit and potential under fresh leadership. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and other young guns showed they’re not just ready — they’re thriving.

That type of transformation in Test cricket demonstrates that the quality of India’s bench strength is not only potential, but performance. At this stage, why not use the same logic for ODIs? While India has young players, like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson, waiting in the wings, now is the best time to shape a new core to take India ahead.

The 2027 World Cup is not just another World Cup — it is the return of the trophy after 16 years. A team based on youth, agility, and fresh ideas could be just what India needs.