Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are now active in the ODI format only for Team India, and both players will be looking to win the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027 to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
In 2023, both came close to winning the coveted trophy but the loss against Australia in the final shattered their and fans' hearts. However, forgetting their bitter memories, they will strive to be at their best for the next two years to serve India in the marquee ODI event and pull off their dream of winning the title.
Rohit, who guided India to the T20 World Cup 2024 win and Champions Trophy 2025 triumph, was replaced by Shubman Gill as ODI skipper, and following this development, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohlisupporters are concerned whether both will be dropped from India’s 50-over squad in the upcoming months. Numbers reveal that their inclusion in India's 50-overs team might help them in lifting the ODI World Cup trophy for the third time in 2027, especially for Rohit, who hasn't won it yet unlike Kohli.
Why Kohli and Rohit crucial for India in World Cup 2027?
Both Kohli and Rohit are important for India as they carry a lot of experience with themselves. Both stalwarts are known to deliver their best performances in big games. In the last two World Cup installments, Rohit dominated the batting charts with his breathtaking performances. In the World Cup held in England and Wales, he notched up 648 runs with five tons in nine games and ended up as the most successful batter in the competition. Rohit continued his scintillating form in the World Cup 2023 held in India and this time, he became the second-leading run-scorer in the tournament with 597 runs in 11 outings.
Kohli also looked majestic with his bat in the World Cup 2015 and emerged as the most successful batter in the ODI. The Delhi-born player amassed 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and concluded as the most successful batter in the competition.
As South Africa will be one of the hosts of the World Cup, it’s essential to know that Kohli’s ODI numbers are incredible in those conditions. The right-handed batter has hoarded 993 runs with three hundreds and six fifties in 20 ODIs. In 2018, when India won their maiden 50-over series on South Africa’s soil, Kohli was the skipper of the side and he led the team from the front. The batting maestro racked up 558 runs with three hundreds and a fifty in six outing. India won the six-match ODI series by a 5-1 margin.
