Former India selector Kris Srikkanth issued a stern message to head coach Gautam Gambhir, insisting that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's places in the 2027 World Cup squad are non-negotiable following their match-defining performance in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
Their 136-run partnership off 109 balls propelled India to 349/8, with Kohli smashing 135 and Rohit blasting 57 while shattering the ODI record for most sixes, securing a 17-run victory and a 1-0 series lead. Srikkanth emphasized on his YouTube channel that Gambhir must prioritize this proven duo amid ongoing selection debates.
Srikkanth's firm stance revives tensions with Gambhir, stemming from earlier criticisms over pacer Harshit Rana's repeated inclusions, which
Srikkanth labeled as favoritism for a "yes man" in the team. Gambhir fired back, calling such attacks "shameful" and defending Rana's merit, especially after protecting him from critics post poor outings like batting at No. 9 in Perth. This history underscores Srikkanth's broader warnings against inconsistent picks, as seen in his recent slams on Gambhir's Test selections and player rotations.
At 37 and 38, Kohli and Rohit have transformed their fitness to excel in limited-overs cricket, with Srikkanth noting, "It's not just the runs. They have worked very hard (on fitness). Virat and Rohit are playing only one format. It's not easy to maintain your mindset like this when only playing one format".
Their explosive powerplay, 80 runs in that phase, followed by racing to 161/1 in 21.2 overs overwhelmed South Africa, proving why Srikkanth declared, "As far as I am concerned, they have sealed their spots for 2027 World Cup. No. 1 and No. 3 slots are all sealed. We can't win without them".
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be at the centre of selection debate for India, but the veteran duo are silencing their critics with the bat. And if they continue to perform like this, no force can stop them from getting into that plane for 2027 World Cup.
