‘Only expectation from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is to keep scoring’: Aakash Chopra ahead of West Indies ODIs

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: With the 2027 ODI World Cup now more than a year away, former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli don’t need to prove anything more than what they have already done – they just need to keep scoring runs.Rohit and Kohli are all set to return to the Indian ODI side for the three-match home series against the West Indies starting in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. With Shubman Gill leading the side and KL Rahul named vice-captain, the form of the experienced duo will be one of the focal points as India begin to shape their plans for the World Cup in South Africa.“The World Cup is just a year away and I know that if Rohit and Kohli get there, they will score, win matches and maybe even trophies. So, looking at it from that perspective, the only expectation from Rohit and Kohli is just this: to keep scoring runs,” Chopra said on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’.

“They’re going to score runs, they’re going to win you games”

Both batters have remained productive in ODIs this year. Kohli scored 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64.00 and a success rate of over 106, with a century and three fifties.Meanwhile, Rohit has made 379 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.11 and a strike rate of over 99. His tally includes a century and a fifty, with his best score being 138 against England at Lord’s.For Chopra, their experience could become especially valuable as India progress towards the next World Cup.Rohit and Kohli are part of the 15-man squad for West Indies ODIs along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Shreyas Iyer, who was part of India’s recent ODI plans, is unavailable as he leads the Asian Games campaign.Chopra also endorsed the overall make-up of the selectors’ team, including the decision to bring in Dhruv Jurel as the second wicket-keeper.“With the players available, you try to make the most of what you have. The biggest change you will notice is that KL Rahul has been named vice-captain in place of Shreyas Iyer because Shreyas Iyer will be at the Asian Games. There was definitely a question mark over Rishabh Pant, but I also liked the selection of Dhruva Jurel, that selection was very good. So, considering the whole team, the whole team was selected,” he said.

Jaiswal-Gaikwad reserve battle, Pant’s white-ball future

Chopra also identified a potential battle between Jaiswal and Gaikwad for the reserve batting slot ahead of the 2027 World Cup.“You have to think about who you can take with you as a reserve for the World Cup. So there will be a toss-up between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are both part of this team and have scored a lot of runs whenever they have played. So I am looking for an opportunity that opens up for one of those two. Auqiden was for West Nabi with the Callup team for India (May) now, but he is not getting a chance to play in the XI. If he gets an opportunity, I will be quite excited to see him I’ll see you play.”Chopra also spoke about Rishabh Pant’s omission from the ODI squad, despite his continued importance in the longer format.“Rishabh Pant is a very special and a very unique case. While he plays Test cricket and is a very important member of the red ball, he was also relieved of his vice-captaincy duties there. But in ODI cricket, without playing, he bid farewell. At the same time, they made him the captain of the Rest of India (ROI), who also has serious respect for cricket, red. Rishabh plays a huge role in the longer format, but for white-ball cricket, I think this selection committee she decided,” he said.The series will also provide opportunities for Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with Chopra highlighting the competition for all-rounders ahead of the World Cup.“In my opinion, one big highlight was getting Nitish Kumar Reddy out of the Asian Games and playing him here. So if Hardik Pandya is not available one day, they really want someone who can play pace and also bat. Ravindra Jadeja will obviously have to take wickets and score runs. Fielding has always been his strong suit. But from a World Cup perspective, you have Jadeja, Washington, Sundar, Jadeja, Padejxar, Dara. And not all of them will go to South Africa so someone will be left out and therefore every time you get an opportunity you have to grab it with both hands,” he said.India will face the West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30 before the series ends in Chandigarh on October 3.