June 22, 2025: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed concerns about the longevity of cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stating it will be “tough” for them to remain fit and secure a place in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Speaking at his residence, Ganguly noted that by the time of the tournament—hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in late 2027—Kohli will be 38 and Rohit nearly 40. With only 27 ODIs scheduled before the tournament, players may get just 15 matches a year, making it a challenge to maintain form and fitness .
Ganguly added, “All of us must understand … the game will go away from them and they will go away from the game.” Despite their illustrious records—including over 25,000 international runs and 83 centuries—he emphasized the difficulty of sustaining top performance at their age. He remarked, “I have got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do. They will take a call.”
While Ganguly acknowledged the unique challenge of replacing a player of Kohli’s caliber, he expressed confidence in Indian cricket’s future depth beyond the superstars.
Ganguly also spoke fondly of former India middle-order stalwart Yuvraj Singh, calling him a “special player” whose one-day brilliance—including a 2007 T20 WC showing and 2011 50-over WC heroics—was hampered in Tests due to competition from legends like Dravid, Tendulkar, and Kumble .