Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has urged the Indian team management to clarify their roles for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, stressing that players of their stature deserve transparent communication. He emphasized that uncertainty at this stage of their careers is unfair and that clear planning is essential as India moves towards the next global event.
Read the full article
With both Rohit and Kohli stepping back from Tests and T20Is to focus on ODIs, their roles remain central to India’s plan, but also part of a broader conversation about transition. Speaking to India Today’s sister channel, Sports Tak, Yuvraj emphasized the need for a frank dialogue between head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Indian selectors and the two stalwarts.
“I don’t know what’s going on in their minds. They look determined to play the World Cup but I think that decision lies with them and the selectors who will have to decide on the future. My point is that they are such great players, it has to be clear,” Yuvraj said.
“You should be able to sit in a room and discuss things openly. It’s difficult, especially at this stage of your career. You might not like to hear that the team is looking ahead, but a year later you’ll appreciate that at least someone told you the truth to your face. That doesn’t really happen in Indian cricket,” he added.
Meanwhile, both Rohit and Kohli have shown that they remain an integral part of India’s ODI set-up. Kohli has enjoyed a resurgence since the end of 2025, returning to the top of the ICC rankings with a more aggressive approach, including a prolific series against South Africa where he scored 302 runs in three matches at an average of 151 and a strike rate of over 117.
Rohit, on the other hand, starred in Australia with 202 runs in three matches at an average of 101, including a match-winning century in Sydney that sealed the series and helped him regain the top ODI ranking on 38 only to be . However, his form dipped in the subsequent home series against New Zealand where he managed just 61 runs at an average of 20.33.
WHY SHOULD INDIA NOT LISTEN TO THE RO-KO DILEMMA
Yuvraj stressed that while the Rohit-Kohli debate will continue to dominate the headlines, India’s focus should be on creating a clear and structured roadmap to the 2027 FIFA World Cup. The bigger concern for him is not who is playing, but how decisively the management communicates its vision to the senior players and the upcoming generation.
“I don’t want any player who has represented the country for so many years to be stuck in a situation where no one sits down and tells them clearly what the plan is. Either commit to them for the World Cup and give them full support or tell them that the team is looking at younger players. Someone has to say that. Tell them the reality. I think it should happen after this IPL,” Yuvraj said.
With emerging players like Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings but fighting for opportunities due to a set top order, India face a balancing act between continuity and transition, making clarity all the more important in the coming months.
WILL ROHIT KOHLI PLAY IN THE 2027 WORLD CUP?
For Yuvraj, the answer is not a simple yes or no, but the answer depends on how India wants to shape its team. He emphasized that while planning for the future is essential, the value of experience in high-pressure tournaments such as the World Cup cannot be underestimated.
“You need experience in the team, you can’t just go with young players. You need someone like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the World Cup squad. But the thing is, whatever you think, you have to be clear with them. Don’t leave them in the dark, it’s not nice, not for them either,” he added.
“Rohit Sharma was probably the best white-ball opener and a World Cup winner in T20s and Champions Trophy, so give him that respect. Virat Kohli is one of the best players of our generation from India, so he deserves that respect too,” Yuvraj said.
As India look ahead to 2027, the numbers suggest that Rohit and Kohli are far from done, but the bigger challenge is not just about form, it’s about direction.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
03 Apr 2026 14:56 IST
