‘They still have a lot to offer’: ‘Bradman of Asia’ Zaheer Abbas backs Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma for 2027 World Cup

India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has thrown his weight behind Indian batting icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, insisting that the two veterans still have plenty in the tank and should be part of India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad.The legendary Pakistan batsman, popularly known as the ‘Asian Bradman’, dismissed concerns over the duo’s age and said their skills, experience and consistent scoring prowess make them automatic contenders for the marquee tournament to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.“Both are very, very good skill-wise and given their experience, I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t play in the World Cup. Age shouldn’t be a factor if they are fit and keep scoring runs,” PTI quoted Zaheer as saying on a Pakistani television channel.

“Experience makes the difference”

Regarded as one of Pakistan’s best batsmen after scoring more than 100 first-class centuries in his illustrious career, Zaheer believes Kohli and Rohit have qualities that only grow stronger with time.According to the former Pakistan captain, scoring runs becomes second nature for players of their caliber after spending years at the highest level, while their experience remains invaluable in major ICC tournaments.He also reviewed the fitness of the two Indian greats and said that Kohli continues to maintain exceptional physical standards.“Kohli is still in great shape while Rohit needs to pay a bit more attention to his fitness,” Zaheer noted.The Pakistan great added that India would benefit immensely from having both the veterans in the dressing room during the 2027 World Cup campaign.His remarks come as speculation continues over the future of India’s top stars despite both producing match-winning performances in the ODI format.

Rohit’s century impressed Zaheer

Zaheer reserved special praise for Rohit after watching the former India captain’s recent century against England and said the batting remained a pleasure to watch.“I watched Rohit score a hundred against England and it’s still a joy to watch him bat. He plays so effortlessly and with such sweet timing,” he said.Rohit’s knock against England once again underlined his competence in the 50-over format, while Kohli also continued his consistent performances, strengthening the case that the experienced pair can still play a key role in the next World Cup.Considering the changing nature of modern cricket, Zaheer acknowledged that T20 cricket has introduced some innovative strokes to the game. But he emphasized that the fundamentals remain just as important and said any batsman who wants to succeed across formats must master traditional shots like the cover drive and cut shot.The former Pakistan captain also spoke about his country’s cricketing future and expressed his belief that better times are ahead.“We hope Babar Azam’s return as Test captain will turn things around. He is a world-class player and once he starts scoring consistently again, it will have a positive impact on the rest of the team as well. The good times will return for Pakistan cricket,” Zaheer said.