NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s form, fitness and relentless run-scoring have given India’s selectors strong confidence ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, but former India wicketkeeper and selector Saba Karim says Rohit Sharma still needs to address key areas before he can be considered a lock for the squad. With both Kohli and Rohit having stepped away from Test and T20 international cricket, the 2027 showpiece is widely viewed as the likely final international chapter of their careers. Yet Karim believes the two former captains are not in the same position at this stage.
Key takeaways
- Saba Karim believes selectors will focus heavily on Rohit Sharma’s form and fitness over the next six months.
- Karim feels Virat Kohli already looks certain to be part of the 2027 ODI World Cup setup.
- Karim points to Kohli’s “hunger for runs” and overall consistency as proof of his readiness.
- In IPL 2026, Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru campaign featured 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84, including one hundred and five half-centuries.
- In the same IPL season, Rohit’s Mumbai Indians struggled, finishing ninth and scoring 283 runs in nine innings.
Rohit still has to prove his fitness and batting rhythm
Karim’s view is that Rohit must put in significant effort to strengthen his case. He specifically highlighted the need for Rohit to work on his fitness levels and improve his batting output. Karim added that selector attention is expected to remain fixed on Rohit’s performances during the coming half-year to determine whether he fits into the World Cup planning.
Kohli’s track record means he doesn’t need to convince anyone
Karim believes Kohli’s situation is far more straightforward. He argued that the selectors appear already satisfied, citing Kohli’s consistency, fitness standards and his sustained appetite for runs. In Karim’s assessment, Kohli does not need to go through additional “proof” at this point, because his recent performances and physical readiness have already demonstrated his value to the 2027 plans.
By contrast, Karim said Rohit will have to do the heavy lifting required to bring his case back into World Cup contention, implying that Rohit’s path is more conditional than Kohli’s.
IPL 2026 underlined the gap between the two campaigns
Karim used the contrasting IPL 2026 seasons as an example of why the two players are being viewed differently. Kohli was described as a key factor in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title defence, where he produced 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84. His contribution also included one hundred and five half-centuries, underlining the regularity of his impact.
Rohit, meanwhile, endured a tougher run in the same season with Mumbai Indians. The franchise ended up finishing ninth, and Karim noted their limited output—only 283 runs across nine innings—reflecting a difficult campaign for the group and for its leading players.
Kohli’s evolution in T20 batting impresses Karim
Karim also praised Kohli’s willingness to reinvent his approach, even during the later stages of his career. He suggested that Kohli’s T20 strike rate has risen across the past two to three seasons because the batter recognised the need to work harder to be truly effective in the format.
Karim said Kohli’s current T20 strike rate sits roughly between 170 and 180, while it was closer to 140 to 150 in the previous year. He further highlighted Kohli’s habit of continuously working on his strengths, framing it as a major reason behind the improvement.
Finally, Karim concluded that whatever Kohli has achieved across Test, one-day and T20 cricket, it is fair to view him as one of the best multi-format players they have seen so far—an assessment shaped by both his numbers and his ongoing drive to adapt.
