Ajit Agarkar outlined what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must do to keep their 2027 World Cup aspirations on track.
Agarkar on Kohli and Rohit: Focusing on the Present, Not Speculation
Ajit Agarkar, BCCI’s chairman of selectors, has once again addressed questions about the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma—questions he has faced countless times. A former India pacer and World Cup winner himself, Agarkar understands the standards players must meet to compete at the highest level, including the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
While Kohli and Rohit remain two of India’s finest batting talents, their limited cricketing schedules mean that participation in the next World Cup is far from guaranteed. Despite the speculation, Agarkar refused to put either player “on trial,” emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present rather than projecting outcomes two years ahead.
“They are part of the squad at the moment for Australia. Like I said, they have been incredible players for a long time. And it’s probably not the forum to keep harping on individuals because you want to try and focus on the team and what the team wants to achieve. And in two years’ time, we don’t know what the situation is going to be. Why only them? It could be some younger player too,” Agarkar said during the NDTV World Cup Summit 2025 on Friday.
“Kohli, Rohit not on trial”, insists Agarkar
India faces a packed ODI schedule leading up to the 2027 World Cup, starting with three matches in Australia and three at home against South Africa. In 2026, the team is set to tour New Zealand and England, bringing India’s pre-World Cup tally to 27 matches, with more to follow in 2027. The big question remains: can Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma sustain themselves over such a demanding period?
Agarkar emphasized that the pair won’t be evaluated on a series-by-series basis. “That would be a bit silly, isn’t it?” he said. “When a guy averages over 50, and the other is close to it, you are not going to put them on trial for every game. But 2027 is a long way ahead. Both play one format. They are playing after what… 7 months. They haven’t had a lot of cricket. Once they start playing, then you assess. They have achieved all they had to in terms of winning trophies, but also runs.
