Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has come out in the open in support of batting legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, cautioning that certain “selectors” are waiting for the pair to fail so they can be omitted from India’s ODI squad before the 2027 World Cup.
Kaif was firm that both players are irreplaceable for India, especially on South Africa’s quick and bouncy pitches, where experience would be key in a high-pressure tournament. Now retired from both T20Is and Test cricket, Rohit and Virat only play in the ODI format now, affording fans the luxury of seeing them at their best on the pitch.
“In the back of their mind, they know that people are waiting for them to fail. There are selectors and some media people. Ab to zid bhi hai Virat Kohli ki, Rohit Sharma ki (both of them are determined). Look at their face, they appeared focused but calm. They have that extra determination. They will be determined to go on their terms in this format and not to give anyone a chance to remove them from the team,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“In South Africa, it is a must to have Rohit and Virat in the squad because of the experience they bring along. You need Rohit Sharma on South Africa’s bouncy track. Same with Virat. He plays well on fast, bouncy strips. Rohit Sharma has shown that age is just a number. You only fix things when they’re broken. People support Rohit and Virat because they know they haven’t done anything wrong,” Kaif added.
Before coming back to play in the three-match ODI series against Australia, rumors surrounding their international retirement had gained traction. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made a striking comeback in the Australia series – Rohit Sharma scored 73 runs in 2nd ODI and 121 runs in 3rd ODI while Virat Kohli also bounced back after registering back-to-back ducks and scored an elegant 74 runs in 3rd ODI.
