Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are once again drawing attention in conversations about India’s ODI plans leading into the 2027 World Cup. Both have previously indicated that they want to be part of another World Cup cycle, yet questions remain over whether the national team’s leadership and the BCCI share the same clarity on their place in the squad.
Kohli featured in India’s title-winning 2011 World Cup team under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, while Rohit has not tasted World Cup success despite being involved in multiple campaigns since then. Both players have since stepped away from Test cricket and now focus exclusively on limited-overs cricket, meaning their match rhythm largely depends on ODIs and the IPL.
Ponting weighs in on Kohli and Rohit’s 2027 hopes
- Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings in the IPL, has added his perspective to the debate about the international future of Kohli and Rohit.
- He expressed confidence that the two experienced campaigners will continue to push for inclusion in India’s 2027 World Cup framework.
- Ponting stressed a belief he has long held about elite performers: champion players don’t get written off, and he doesn’t see them giving up on their goals.
- He also argued that the duo still possess enough quality to compete at the highest level, pointing to their approach and output during the ongoing IPL as proof of their continued drive.
Speaking about what he has observed, Ponting said Kohli has once again shown the kind of hunger that keeps him competitive. He noted that Kohli may not be featuring in international cricket as frequently as before, but believes the same determination to win remains firmly in place. Ponting added that Rohit has arrived in this IPL in notably strong physical shape—something he feels he has not seen from him for roughly a decade or more—before concluding that the passion to keep improving is still very much present.
For Ponting, this is exactly why he prefers not to close the door on players like them. “You never say never,” he said, reinforcing his view that Kohli and Rohit can continue working to become the best versions of themselves.
Kohli’s form and Rohit’s stops-start rhythm in the IPL
In the current IPL season, Kohli has looked sharp and is again among the leading run-scorers, keeping his name prominent even in the race for the Orange Cap. Rohit’s tournament has been less consistent, with a mix of impactful innings and quieter returns, and that unevenness has only added fuel to the wider discussion about how his international game might evolve.
With more than a year still remaining before the 2027 World Cup, no final calls have been made. Still, from here onward, each ODI assignment and every IPL campaign involving these two senior stars is likely to be scrutinised closely when it comes to India’s planning for the next World Cup cycle.
