India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) AB de Villiers has shared how special it is to still see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing for India. The former South African captain, who was Kohli’s long-time IPL teammate and close friend, was speaking at the launch of Test Twenty, the proposed fourth format of the game. He compared watching Kohli now to watching Tiger Woods in his comeback years. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their international careers, de Villiers said he was just happy to watch them in action.“I’m one of those guys who takes what I can get,” de Villiers said at the event. “If Tiger Woods comes back and makes a few shots, I’m just happy he’s playing. Same with these two. They know what they still want to achieve; the 2027 World Championship is probably their main goal. I wish them nothing but success and a fantastic end to their careers, however it ends up.”
Massive crowd on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma at Delhi Airport as Team India leaves for Australia
For former Australian opener Matthew Hayden, who also spoke at the Test Twenty20 launch, seeing Kohli and Rohit on the field is reassuring. He understands that their time at the top can’t last forever, but appreciates the value they bring as players and mentors.“Having Rohit in the house, having Virat in the house, that’s gold. They’re not just players, they’re mentors in the dugout,” Hayden said. “Hopefully it’s not their last tour but you can’t play forever. It’s more than likely their last trip to Australia but they’ll be focused on the 2027 World Cup and that’s exactly where their focus should be. I was a bit surprised that Rohit was relieved as captain after the Champions Trophy but it makes sense. Shubman Gill is being groomed and building a leader takes time.”Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue to impress with their fitness, skill and determination. Still, there’s a tacit understanding among fans, peers and pundits that their time at the top may be coming to an end. If this turns out to be their last Australian summer, both are likely to make it one to remember, putting runs on the board and adding another chapter to their remarkable careers.
