West Indies legend Ian Bishop had some words of wisdom on the future of Indian cricket superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, saying that their involvement in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup will depend on three factors their motivation, physical fitness, and form in the build-up years to the tournament. Asked if the veteran duo can prolong their international careers by another World Cup cycle, Bishop agreed that it is possible, given that both players have been included in India's ODI team for the tour of Australia later this year their first outing since helping India win the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
“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.”
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Rohit will be 40 and Kohli will be 39 when the next ODI World Cup comes around but have been in top-notch physical condition throughout their careers and are still key players in India's limited-overs team. Both, though, are long-term questions marks. Bishop also referred to the changing leadership dynamic in Indian cricket, especially after Shubman Gill led India to a 2-0 Test series win against the West Indies in his first series as captain.
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“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.”
“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,” he added.
While lauding Gill for his calm temperament and leadership qualities, Bishop was clear that the young batter has a lot of work to do and can only benefit immensely by having experienced players such as Rohit and Kohli in his midst. He called the veteran pair an invaluable support system for Gill, particularly as he matures into his position and acquires tactical knowledge about the game.