Former Australia captain Steve Waugh gave his verdict on the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Indian cricket as he underlined something many modern-day cricket lovers tend to forget: no player is indispensable. His comments have cropped up at a time when speculations about India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad are rife, with both Kohli and Rohit set to be over 40 years old.
Speaking on his YouTube channel with senior journalist Vimal Kumar, Waugh outlined the responsibilities of the seniors in the team. “The players have to take some responsibility and realise that the game is bigger than the individual. You can’t put yourself above the game. You’ve got to realise that the game moves on and someone else will take your place. You’re not irreplaceable,” Waugh said.
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The situation places BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar in an extremely tricky position. While both Kohli and Rohit are legends of the game and phenomenally popular among fans, selecting them based purely on past achievements could affect India’s chances of winning a 50-over World Cup for the first time in 16 years. On the other hand, dropping these two stalwarts prematurely will invite controversy and public backlash.
As Waugh has pointed out, cricket is a constantly evolving game. Even the all-time great players must eventually be replaced, and selectors have to make decisions based on team balance and long-term plans, not sentiment. “At the end of the day, the chairman of selectors has got to make a call for the better,” he said.
With cricket inching towards the 2027 World Cup, a big question keeps looming: will India’s hopes rest with experience or its next generation? Waugh’s view strengthens the fact that in cricket of today, legacy alone cannot guarantee a spot; performance, fitness, and team dynamics decide the future.
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