Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a confident prediction about Rohit Sharma’s chances of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Recently, Rohit was relieved of his captaincy, with Shubman Gill taking over as India’s ODI skipper ahead of the three-match series against Australia starting October 19.
Speculation around Rohit’s participation in the World Cup has been growing, especially after he stepped down as captain. However, Kaif believes that Rohit will still feature in the tournament as an opening batsman.
He further added that the experienced batter is likely to perform well on the South African pitches, where the World Cup will be jointly hosted with Zimbabwe and Namibia. Speaking during his YouTube live session on Friday, October 10, Kaif said:
“He will definitely play, boss. Look, the captaincy may have been taken away from him, but I believe that as an opener, Rohit Sharma will do his job. You need an experienced batter in the side. You can’t go to South Africa, where the World Cup will be played, with an entirely young team. Sometimes in those seaming conditions, the ball moves a lot and the pitches are bouncy. If you take only new players there, they’ll get exposed.”
“That’s why I feel you need a player who can handle the bounce, who can pull and cut the rising deliveries just like Rohit Sharma does. On those kinds of pitches, I believe Rohit Sharma will perform even better. His batting style as an opener suits such conditions perfectly. He plays the rising ball, the one that bounces from the front, extremely well. Among all the players you can name, Rohit Sharma is the only one who handles that rising delivery so effectively,” he added.
“Experience matters”– Mohammad Kaif on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s value in India’s ODI team
In the same discussion, Mohammad Kaif highlighted that India will rely on the experience of seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to perform well in the 2027 ODI World Cup, stating:
“Just look at his numbers, his years of experience. On a big stage like the World Cup, you need players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, players who have seen the world and experienced ups and downs. In a tournament like the World Cup, you’re going to lose a game or two in between, then you’ll need to make a comeback.”
“You’ll face those do-or-die matches where you must win to reach the quarterfinals or top four. In such crucial situations, the roles of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli become absolutely vital.”
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