Shikhar Dhawan Backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup

Shikhar Dhawan has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play for India at the 2027 ODI World Cup, arguing that their experience, performances and physical preparation continue to make them valuable assets for the national team.

The comments come at a particularly interesting stage of both players’ careers. Rohit and Kohli are now concentrating on ODI cricket after stepping away from the other international formats, while their age has naturally intensified discussion about whether they will still be part of India’s plans when the next 50-over World Cup arrives.

Dhawan, who shared the opening role with both players during a significant period of his India career, believes their recent performances provide enough reason for optimism. He specifically highlighted Rohit’s century at Lord’s and Kohli’s exceptional fitness as evidence that the experienced pair can continue contributing at the highest level.

Shikhar Dhawan predicts Rohit and Kohli will play in 2027

Dhawan’s prediction is straightforward: he expects both Rohit and Kohli to be part of India’s 2027 ODI World Cup campaign.

Speaking to ANI, the former India opener praised the duo’s enormous contribution to Indian cricket and stressed that their value cannot be judged simply by their age.

“They are legends, they have performed for the country for so many years.”

Dhawan also pointed to the long relationship between the three players, explaining that they have known each other since their teenage years.

That personal connection gives Dhawan a unique perspective on their careers. He has experienced first-hand the preparation, pressure and standards required to remain an international opener for an extended period.

Why Rohit Sharma’s Lord’s century matters

One of the strongest points in Dhawan’s argument is Rohit’s recent performance against England.

During India’s three-match ODI series against England in July, Rohit produced a century at Lord’s. India eventually lost the series 2-1, but the veteran opener’s individual performance offered an important reminder of his ability to influence matches.

For Rohit, the innings was significant because questions surrounding his future have increasingly focused on whether he can still produce match-winning performances consistently.

A century at a major international venue provided the kind of answer only a batter can give: runs on the scoreboard.

Dhawan highlighted that point while discussing Rohit’s career, suggesting that when circumstances became difficult, the veteran responded with his bat rather than words.

“Rohit recently scored a hundred at Lord’s, so he scored a wonderful century and showed how his bat talks.”

That idea is central to Rohit’s 2027 argument. Selection for a World Cup cannot be based solely on reputation, but strong performances close to the tournament will inevitably carry significant weight.

Rohit Sharma’s biggest challenge is not his reputation

The question surrounding Rohit is therefore less about whether he has achieved enough and more about whether his body and performances remain capable of sustaining international cricket.

At this stage of his career, every additional ODI series becomes part of a larger evaluation process.

India’s selectors will eventually have to balance experience with succession planning. Younger batters need opportunities, but replacing a player of Rohit’s calibre is not simply a matter of selecting another opener.

Rohit’s value includes his ability to handle pressure, understand opposition bowling plans and provide leadership within the batting group.

His role may also evolve. Rather than expecting him to carry India’s batting in every match, the team could potentially benefit from using his experience alongside younger players who are developing around him.

Dhawan praises Virat Kohli’s fitness

Dhawan’s assessment of Kohli focused heavily on one particular attribute: fitness.

Even at 37, Kohli’s physical standards remain a major part of his professional identity. Dhawan described his fitness as exceptional and suggested that it strengthens the case for his continued involvement.

“Keeping himself so fit, performing so well.”

For an ODI cricketer, fitness has importance beyond running between the wickets.

Fielding standards, recovery between matches and the ability to maintain concentration throughout a 50-over contest all become increasingly important as players get older.

Kohli’s commitment to conditioning has long been one of the defining features of his career, and Dhawan believes that dedication could help extend his international journey.

Kohli’s case for the 2027 World Cup is different from Rohit’s

Although Rohit and Kohli are often discussed together, their individual selection cases are not identical.

Rohit’s primary argument is built around leadership experience, opening ability and his capacity to change the tempo of an innings.

Kohli’s case is more closely linked to his extraordinary record as a run-maker and his ability to anchor an innings while accelerating when required.

That difference could actually make their partnership particularly valuable if both remain available.

India would potentially have two senior batters with very different methods of controlling an ODI innings. Rohit can attack early and put pressure on the opposition, while Kohli has traditionally excelled at managing chases and building substantial innings.

The England ODI series provided an important signal

The recent England series has become an important reference point in the discussion surrounding both veterans.

India lost the three-match series 2-1, but the individual performances of Rohit and Kohli kept the conversation around their futures alive.

Kohli recorded two half-centuries during the series, while Rohit produced his century at Lord’s.

Those contributions do not guarantee selection for 2027, but they demonstrate why the debate remains unresolved.

If both players had struggled badly, selectors would have a much easier argument for accelerating the transition to younger options. Instead, their continued production creates a more complicated selection equation.

Why experience could matter at the 2027 World Cup

The 2027 ODI World Cup will present a completely different challenge from a bilateral series.

World Cups bring knockout pressure, unfamiliar opposition matchups and enormous expectations. A squad containing players who have already experienced multiple global tournaments can benefit from that knowledge.

Rohit and Kohli have played through numerous major international campaigns and understand the difference between ordinary bilateral cricket and tournament cricket.

That experience could be particularly valuable to younger members of India’s squad.

However, experience should not automatically guarantee selection. The strongest argument for retaining the veterans is that their experience must continue to be supported by performances.

That is where Dhawan’s comments become more relevant. He is not simply arguing that Rohit and Kohli deserve selection because of their past achievements. He is pointing toward their current preparation and recent performances.

The age factor cannot be ignored

There is still an obvious question hanging over the 2027 prediction: age.

Rohit is currently 39, while Kohli is 37. By the time of the 2027 ODI World Cup, both will be older still.

That does not make selection impossible, but it does make the evaluation more demanding.

The selectors will need to consider workload, fitness, form and the development of younger alternatives. A player may still be capable of producing brilliant performances while the team simultaneously needs to prepare for life after that player.

India therefore faces a balancing act.

The ideal scenario would be for Rohit and Kohli to remain productive enough to justify selection while younger players gradually become ready to take on greater responsibility.

Rohit and Kohli could provide a bridge between generations

This may be the most important argument in favour of Dhawan’s prediction.

India does not necessarily have to choose between experience and youth immediately.

If Rohit and Kohli maintain their standards, they could serve as a bridge between generations. Young batters could learn from them while gradually becoming central figures themselves.

That approach would also reduce the pressure of replacing two legendary players simultaneously.

For a team targeting a World Cup, continuity can be extremely valuable. Abruptly removing experienced players immediately before a major tournament could create unnecessary uncertainty.

On the other hand, keeping veterans solely because of their reputations could block the development of players who might otherwise become India’s next generation of ODI stars.

The solution will therefore depend on performance rather than sentiment.

Dhawan’s prediction comes with an important condition

Although Dhawan strongly backed the duo, his comments should not be interpreted as a guarantee that either player will be selected.

Only the selectors can make that decision, and the most important evidence will come from the matches leading into the tournament.

If Rohit continues producing impactful innings and Kohli maintains both his fitness and batting output, their cases will remain difficult to dismiss.

If younger players outperform them consistently, however, India’s selection strategy could change.

That is the reality of international sport: reputations open doors, but current performance keeps them open.

What Rohit and Kohli would add to India’s 2027 squad

• World Cup experience: Both players have extensive experience of major international tournaments.
• Big-match temperament: They have repeatedly played important innings under intense pressure.
• Batting stability: Their presence could give India’s middle and top order a strong experienced core.
• Mentorship: Younger players could benefit from sharing a dressing room with two established international stars.
• Strategic knowledge: Their understanding of opposition bowlers and tournament conditions could be valuable during a World Cup campaign.

What could prevent them from reaching the 2027 World Cup?

The biggest obstacle is not a lack of achievement. It is the combination of age, fitness and competition for places.

India’s younger generation will have several opportunities to establish themselves before the World Cup. If an emerging opener or top-order batter consistently produces stronger performances, selectors may have to make difficult decisions.

In addition, ODI cricket requires players to remain physically sharp throughout a demanding tournament schedule.

For Rohit and Kohli, staying fit and productive will therefore be more important than ever.

Dhawan’s unique connection with Rohit and Kohli

Dhawan’s opinion carries an emotional dimension because of his long association with both players.

He pointed out that the three have known each other since they were around 16 years old. That means his assessment comes from someone who has watched their development from young cricketers into established international stars.

Dhawan also described it as a matter of great joy to see them preparing for another major challenge.

His comments therefore reflect both admiration and confidence in their continued ability to contribute.

Conclusion

Shikhar Dhawan has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature for India at the 2027 ODI World Cup, pointing to their experience, recent performances and continued physical preparation as reasons for optimism.

Rohit’s century at Lord’s and Kohli’s two half-centuries against England provide fresh evidence that neither veteran can be dismissed from the selection conversation yet. At the same time, their advancing ages mean the decision will ultimately depend on form, fitness and the progress of India’s younger players.

Dhawan’s prediction is therefore best viewed as a strong vote of confidence rather than a certainty. If Rohit and Kohli continue to perform at the level expected of them, India may have a compelling reason to take two of its most experienced ODI stars to the 2027 World Cup.

The bigger question is whether the veterans can continue making selection decisions easy for India by letting their bats do the talking.