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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 02, 2026 | The Indian Eye 43

Rohit and Virat Return as India

Look to Reset ODI Campaign

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in the ODI setup, India begin their West Indies series with
renewed attention on experience, combinations and the road to the 2027 World Cup

OUR BUREAU That challenge is the 2027 ODI
World Cup, which will be co-hosted
New Delhi
by South Africa, Namibia and Zim-
ndia’s ODI campaign enters an- babwe. The possibility of Rohit and
other important phase as Rohit Virat featuring in another World
ISharma and Virat Kohli return Cup remains a major subject of in-
to the national colours for the three- terest for Indian cricket.
match series against the West Indies, Rinku Singh recently expressed
beginning on Sunday in Thiruvanan- the hope that both legends would be
thapuram. part of India’s 2027 World Cup cam-
The return of the two ODI stal- paign and help the country win the
warts is likely to be one of the big- trophy.
gest talking points of the series. After “They are legends, both Virat
India’s 1-2 defeat to England in their bhaiya and Rohit bhaiya,” Rinku
previous ODI series in July, the West said. He added that the entire coun-
Indies contest gives the team an op- try would hope to see them in the
portunity to work on its combination World Cup and that winning the
while bringing two of its most experi- tournament would be a huge mo-
enced batters back into the side. ment for both players and the nation.
India’s players were put through Virat is the second-highest
their paces in the nets in Thiruva- run-scorer in World Cup history,
nanthapuram on Thursday. Rohit, with 1,795 runs in 37 matches at an
Virat, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ya- average of 59.83, including five cen-
shasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, turies and 12 fifties.
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jade- But India’s immediate task is not
ja were among those involved in the the 2027 World Cup. It is to build a
practice session. balanced ODI side capable of com-
The session also provided an peting consistently while integrat-
interesting glimpse into the team’s ing experienced campaigners with
preparations, with Virat seen inter- emerging talent.
acting with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who Ruturaj’s return adds another
has returned to the squad for the layer to that process. His domestic
series. Gaikwad comes in to fill the record suggests that he has the abil-
place of T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer, ity to contribute across formats. For
adding another option to India’s Uttar Pradesh, he has scored 3,757
middle-order combination. first-class runs in 53 matches at an
For India, however, the return average of 58.70, including nine cen-
of Rohit and Virat is about more turies and 23 fifties. In List-A cricket,
than simply adding two experienced he has accumulated 2,418 runs in 70
names to the squad. Both remain Virat is the second-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, with 1,795 runs in 37 matches at matches at an average of 52.56.
among the most prolific ODI batters For the two veterans, the series is
in Indian cricket, and their presence an average of 59.83, including five centuries and 12 fifties. (ANI file photo) another opportunity to demonstrate
brings a vast amount of experience to their continuing value in the format.
a team that is also developing young- Lord’s, while he has accumulated 379 cessful ODI chases, averaging an ex- For India, it is a chance to sharpen its
er players. runs in nine ODI innings at an aver- traordinary 89.07, with 24 centuries combination and build momentum.
Rohit is India’s third-highest age of 42.11 and a strike rate above 99. and 29 fifties. With the 2027 World Cup al-
ODI run-scorer and century-maker, Virat’s numbers are even more His form in ODIs this year has ready beginning to shape long-term
with 11,895 runs in 288 matches and remarkable. He has scored 14,941 also been strong. He has made 384 ODI planning, the return of Rohit
280 innings at an average of 48.95. runs in 314 ODIs at an average of runs in six innings at an average of and Virat gives the West Indies series
His record includes 34 centuries and 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties. 64, with a strike rate above 106, in- an added significance. The spotlight
62 fifties. His consistency, particularly in suc- cluding a century and three fifties. will naturally fall on the two legends,
The former captain remains par- cessful run-chases, has made him one The West Indies series there- but India’s larger objective will be to
ticularly dangerous when he settles of the defining batters of the format. fore provides both veterans with an develop a side in which experience
into an innings. His best score this Virat has scored 6,235 runs in opportunity to continue building to- and the next generation can work to-
year has been 138 against England at 111 matches and 105 innings in suc- wards the next major ODI challenge. gether effectively.

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