Ricky Ponting has backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to keep building toward the next major India target: the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The former Australia captain, now head coach of Punjab Kings, believes the experienced duo still have the drive to push their careers forward, even as their international workload changes.
Ponting’s view on Kohli and Rohit’s longevity
Ponting noted that Kohli and Rohit have moved on from Test cricket, retiring from the format last year and currently featuring in India’s ODI setup. Beyond international matches, he pointed out that their most consistent cricket rhythm is increasingly shaped by the IPL, where both have remained central figures for their franchises.
With World Cup ambitions in mind, Ponting argued that champion players rarely fade away quietly. “I can see them pushing ahead and trying to get there,” Ponting said. He also stressed his long-held belief that top performers should not be written off: “You never say no. You never write them off.”
The coach went on to praise their recent IPL impact. He highlighted Kohli’s output in IPL 2026, describing the current season as proof that the mindset is still fully present. Ponting added that even if Kohli is not playing as many international games as he used to, the determination to win has not disappeared.
On Rohit Sharma, Ponting focused on physical readiness. He remarked that Rohit has appeared in noticeably stronger condition this IPL compared to what Ponting has seen over roughly the last decade. In his view, that fitness has helped keep the urgency and intensity intact.
What Ponting highlighted from IPL 2026
Kohli has compiled 542 runs in 13 matches in IPL 2026, including a century. Rohit has scored 283 runs in eight matches, with two half-centuries, after returning from a hamstring problem and spending much of the season in an impact role for Mumbai Indians.
Ponting also underlined how both batters have maintained aggressive scoring patterns, with strike rates above 160 in IPL 2026.
ODI call-up and the World Cup timeline
- On Tuesday, Kohli and Rohit were named in India’s squad for a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
- The series starts on June 14.
- Rohit’s inclusion is linked to fitness, given his hamstring issue.
- Selectors are expected to make a final decision on the pair’s 2027 ODI World Cup involvement closer to the tournament, based on their form and fitness levels.
Ponting summed up his stance with a message of continued belief: the passion is still there for Kohli and Rohit to keep improving and become the best versions of themselves, and “you never say never.”
