Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli in 2027 World Cup? Former West Indies great drops bold prediction | Cricket News
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop has shared his insights on whether Indian cricket veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could feature in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, while also commenting on Shubman Gill‘s captaincy future. Bishop emphasized that the veterans’ participation would depend on their motivation, fitness, and form, while suggesting that Gill requires time to develop as a captain despite showing promise.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to international cricket in the upcoming Australia tour, having been selected for India’s ODI squad following their Champions Trophy victory earlier this year.The future of both players in the 2027 World Cup remains a subject of discussion, considering Rohit would be 40 and Kohli 39 by then.“That’s their decision. I can’t answer that for Rohit or for Virat or for the BCCI. It depends on what their determination and skill are like. They’ve been fine so far,” Bishop told PTI Videos.The discussion also centered around Shubman Gill’s recent appointment as captain, following his leadership in India’s 2-0 Test series victory against the West Indies.“He’ll be fine. Those two guys will help him along the way. He will grow in the job,” Bishop told PTI Videos. “He’s nowhere near the finished article. People have to give him that chance to grow as a captain, and as a batsman, he will grow as well.”Bishop highlighted the importance of having experienced players like Rohit and Kohli to guide Gill through his captaincy journey.“He has the temperament and the skill to lead, but the growth in captaincy and tactics is something that will take a couple of seasons to grow into. I’m sure he’ll get help from the two veterans,” Bishop elaborated.The former West Indies pacer also provided his analysis of the recent Test series between India and West Indies.Despite India’s dominant performance, Bishop identified positive developments for the West Indies team.“From a West Indian perspective, it was great to see a few of the batters spending time at the crease. The trust they showed in the pitch was excellent,” he remarked, specifically mentioning performances by Shai Hope, John Campbell, and Justin Greaves, along with spinner Jomel Warrican.Bishop concluded his observations about the West Indies team saying, “It’s not that they’ve arrived, but they’ve put some building blocks in place.”Both Rohit and Kohli’s experience and leadership will be crucial in mentoring the next generation of Indian cricket leaders, particularly as Gill develops in his new role as captain.The upcoming ODI series in Australia will provide an opportunity for this leadership transition to unfold, with the veterans supporting Gill’s development while maintaining their own performance standards.
