Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim believes Virat Kohli has done enough to secure his place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, but feels Rohit Sharma still has significant work to do if he hopes to be part of the squad for the marquee event.
With both Kohli and Rohit having stepped away from other international formats, the 2027 ODI World Cup is widely expected to be the final chapter of their illustrious careers in Indian cricket. However, Karim feels the selectors currently view the two batting stalwarts differently.
Speaking exclusively to PTI, Karim said Kohli’s fitness standards, consistency and relentless desire for runs have left no doubts in the minds of the selectors.
“I think selectors will be keenly watching Rohit’s performance for the next six months to decide whether he can be part of the equation or not. But for Virat Kohli, I am sure that they are completely convinced that he will be a part of the 2027 World Cup set-up,” Karim said.
According to the former wicketkeeper-batter, Kohli has repeatedly demonstrated that he remains among the world’s elite cricketers despite being in the latter stages of his career.
“Through his performances, fitness levels and hunger for runs, he has shown everything that selectors would want to see. At this stage, Virat does not need to prove anything. Rohit, however, will have to do a lot of heavy lifting if he wants to get back into the selectors’ World Cup planning,” he added.
Kohli’s Ability To Evolve Impresses Karim
Karim also praised Kohli’s willingness to adapt his game, particularly in the shortest format, where strike rate has become increasingly important.
He pointed out that Kohli has significantly improved his scoring rate over the last few seasons, proving his ability to evolve with the demands of modern cricket.
“If you look at Virat Kohli’s strike rate over the past two or three seasons in T20 cricket, it has gone up because he realised that to remain meaningful in the format, he had to work hard on that aspect of his game,” Karim explained.
He noted that Kohli’s IPL strike rate has improved considerably compared to previous seasons.
“This season his strike rate has been around 170 to 180, whereas earlier it was around 140 to 150. He is someone who keeps working on his strengths and constantly looks for ways to improve.”
Karim believes Kohli’s achievements across all formats place him among India’s finest all-format cricketers.
“Whatever Virat has achieved in Test cricket, one-day cricket and T20 cricket, you can certainly argue that he is one of the best multi-format players India has ever produced,” he said.
Rohit’s Road To The World Cup
While Kohli appears to have secured the confidence of the selectors, Karim believes Rohit’s place in the 2027 World Cup squad will largely depend on his performances and physical condition over the coming months.
The former selector stressed that maintaining fitness and delivering consistent performances will be critical if Rohit hopes to remain in contention for a place in India’s World Cup plans.
As Indian cricket transitions towards a younger generation of players, selectors are expected to closely monitor Rohit’s form before making long-term decisions regarding the squad.
Karim Defends Selectors On Rishabh Pant
Karim also weighed in on wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s struggles in white-ball cricket, saying the player has received ample opportunities from the selectors and the BCCI.
Responding to concerns over Pant’s exclusion from certain white-ball plans, Karim said the responsibility ultimately lies with the player to deliver performances.
“Don’t you think it is the responsibility of the individual to do well? The BCCI and the selection committee have given him enough opportunities in both ODIs and T20Is,” Karim said.
He added that while many viewed Pant as a natural multi-format player, his success in red-ball cricket has not translated consistently into the shorter formats.
“Everyone believed he would succeed across all three formats, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened. In white-ball cricket, Pant is yet to discover the template that has made him so successful in Test cricket.”
Karim concluded by saying that despite possessing all the attributes required to excel in limited-overs cricket, Pant’s future success will depend on how effectively he adapts his approach.
“We may feel he is ideally suited for white-ball cricket, but in the end, it depends on the player and how he develops his game,” he said.