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Daryll Cullinan urges Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to stay active for 2027 ODI World Cup; suggests Shubman Gill as ODI captain.
Rohit Sharma (R) and Virat Kohli (AP Photo).
Former South Africa cricketer Daryll Cullinan has said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would need to be on the ground of international cricket to keep themselves relevant till the 2027 ODI World Cup, adding that otherwise, India should move on from the veteran stars.
Rohit and Kohli might be seen in action together on the three-match ODI tour to Australia next month.
Rohit and Kohli last played for India in the Champions Trophy, two months after which they retired from Tests.
“Well, I think from an ability and experience point of view, they could play, I don’t think there’s any doubt in that, but they’d have to be on the ground of international cricket. If I were the coach or convener of selectors, because no matter how good you are, thinking that you can just play a few games or select a few games, not put in the hours and then step in and think you’re going to perform, no, that doesn’t work that way,” Cullinan said while speaking to The Hindustan Times.
“So it’s a bit of a catch-22, I’m not saying they need to be on the circuit all the time, but they need to have played a serious amount of cricket, especially going into the World Cup, so they’re in the right physical, mental frame of mind, the grind of international cricket, being fit, then I would say yes, but anything less than that I’d say no, India move on, because that certainly doesn’t work, and that’s in my view,” Cullinan added.
Rohit and Kohli retired from T20Is after winning the World Cup in June last year.
Cullinan felt that the time had come for India’s Test skipper, Shubman Gill, to take over the leadership reins in ODIs, regardless of whether Rohit was part of the playing XI or not.
September 06, 2025, 23:45 IST
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