Thinking of 2027 World Cup, Want Rohit and Kohli to Play Longer: Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan and Varun Aaron back longer ODI careers for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, highlight Shubman Gill’s leadership challenge ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2026-01-03 04:01 GMT
India commence 2026 with a home white-ball challenge against New Zealand, starting with a three-match ODI series that'll see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India colours once again. Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’, JioStar experts Irfan Pathan and Varun Aaron stressed the need for more ODIs and tri-series, the importance of extending Rohit and Kohli’s ODI careers, and the growing expectations around new captain Shubman Gill.
Speaking on 'Follow the Blues', JioStar expert Irfan Pathan on Rohit and Kohli playing the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027:
"You definitely want to think about the ICC 2027 ODI World Cup. It is far away, but I just want to see both Rohit and Kohli playing for the longest time, for India and when not playing international cricket, in domestic cricket. They are playing just one format and nothing else, so the more they play, the better it is."
On challenges for Shubman Gill as captain of the ODI and Test team:
"When I was picked for the first time, at 19 years of age, the great Rahul Dravid said, “Irfan, it's good that you have reached this level, but things will only get difficult from here on.” Upon asking him, What should I do if things do get difficult? He replied, “You will get used to handling it…” and the same will happen with Shubman Gill. One good thing that happened on the England tour for Shubman was that his Test average improved, and his authority over the team also increased. Now he also has the responsibility in ODIs and it is a huge opportunity for him to grow.“
On Shubman Gill being compared to Virat Kohli:
"He is immensely talented, there is no question about that, and comparisons are inevitable. Virat Kohli was constantly compared to Sachin Tendulkar and was expected to perform at that level. Now that Kohli has reached those heights, Gill is being compared to him. There's expectations that he must match those standards and score close to 25,000–30,000 runs and he certainly has the ability to do so.”
Speaking on 'Follow The Blues', JioStar expert Varun Aaron noted Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma being "box office" attractions that draw huge crowds and viewership:
"It was a box-office series against South Africa, when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were both in form and even in Australia. India would be looking to have way more series than we are having because the crowds they're pulling in, the viewership they're bringing in, these two guys are box office."
On Kohli and Rohit's performance in ODIs and that they should keep playing as long as they want:
"At the end of the day, you want Rohit and Virat to play as much as possible. A lot of people are upset that they're not playing Test and T20s but the way they're playing in the ODIs is phenomenal. Rohit Sharma has reinvented himself fitness-wise and Virat Kohli has taken it up a few notches ever since that last one-day in Australia. It just shows that age is a number and it's mind over matter for them."
Link to the video: https://www.hotstar.com/in/sports/cricket/india-target-3-world-cup-titles-in-2026/1271517554/watch
Catch all the action from the India vs New Zealand ODI series, January 11 onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network