New Delhi: Former India captain Kapil Dev has made it clear that the decision on whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma feature in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup should rest primarily with the national selectors, not the team management or head coach Gautam Gambhir.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of the two senior batters ahead of the next World Cup, Kapil said the selection committee must take the lead in evaluating their place in the squad. He stressed that if the selectors are convinced a player deserves a spot, there is little need to seek additional approval from the captain or the coach.
According to Kapil, the selection process should begin with the five member selection panel, followed by discussions with the captain if required, and only then the coach. He said a well functioning selection committee should be capable of making the right decisions independently.
The 1983 World Cup winning captain also dismissed age as the deciding factor in international cricket, saying players should be judged on their fitness and performances rather than the number of years they have played. However, he acknowledged that experienced cricketers often face greater scrutiny during lean patches, with public opinion tending to question whether their time has passed.
By the time the 2027 World Cup begins, Kohli will be close to 39 years old, while Rohit will be around 40. Despite the speculation over their long term futures, both remain key members of India’s ODI setup.
The experienced duo are expected to be part of India’s squad for the upcoming three match ODI series against England, where they will continue preparations as the team builds towards the next ICC tournament.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
