Rohit, Kohli’s 2027 World Cup future uncertain as Nehra says ‘13 months is a long time’

The debate over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI futures is unlikely to end anytime soon, with India’s limited ODI schedule ahead of the 2027 World Cup leaving plenty of room for speculation. Every squad selection and extended gap between series has renewed questions over whether the two veteran batters will be part of India’s campaign in South Africa.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently dismissed speculation over Rohit’s place in India’s ODI plans. However, questions about the former captain’s future continue, particularly as age remains a factor. Rohit will turn 40 around the time of the 2027 World Cup, while Kohli will be 39 during the tournament.

Former India pacer and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra, however, believes it is far too early to predict whether either player will make the World Cup squad.

‘13 months is a long time’: Ashish Nehra

Speaking at the Cricket Association of Bengal’s annual awards ceremony in Kolkata, Nehra said the rapidly changing nature of international cricket makes long-term predictions difficult.

“We all know what Rohit and Virat have achieved over the last decade. But for me, 13 months is a long time. It is very difficult to say right now whether Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli will be there. Forget those two. Age is just a number,” Nehra said, according to RevSportz.

Nehra cited Shubman Gill as an example of how quickly selection dynamics can change. Gill remains an important part of India’s Test and ODI plans but was left out of the current T20I squad, highlighting how selections can vary according to format, form and team requirements.

“We talk about Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah, but even Shubman is not in the T20 squad. The way the sport is going, it is fast-paced and more formats are coming. So, it is difficult to say. It is simply too early,” Nehra said.

Performance could decide Rohit, Kohli’s World Cup chances

According to Nehra, Rohit and Kohli’s performances will ultimately matter more than their age. Both remain among the most prolific active ODI run-scorers, and Nehra believes there is no reason to rule them out if they continue to perform consistently.

“If they are doing well and performing, why not?” he said, while adding that selecting the World Cup squad would involve multiple decision-makers, including the selectors and BCCI.

Nehra also stressed that predicting India’s World Cup squad more than a year in advance would be unrealistic, given how quickly circumstances can change in international sport.

“First of all, I am not coaching India. Secondly, it is too far away. When it comes to international cricket, the World Cup is still around 13 months away. We have seen, not just in Indian cricket but in every sport, how much things can change even in two or three weeks,” he said.

For now, Rohit and Kohli remain part of India’s ODI plans. Their performances in the limited opportunities India will have in the format over the coming year are likely to play a decisive role in determining whether the two veterans get another chance to feature together at the 2027 World Cup.