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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 09, 2026 | The Indian Eye 50

Rohit and Virat: The old war

horses still dominate

Even as Shubman Gill takes over the spotlight, India’s two modern greats continue to set the standard

OUR BUREAU consistency. His international career
has already produced a mountain
New Delhi
of records, but his ability to contin-
ndian cricket may be looking ue scoring heavily after more than a
towards a new generation, with decade at the highest level remains
IShubman Gill firmly establishing striking.
himself as captain and the leading What makes the Rohit-Kohli
light of the next era. But the latest story particularly interesting is that
numbers from the ODI series against they are now operating alongside
the West Indies offer a reminder that Gill rather than competing with him
two of the game’s old war horses are for the future of Indian cricket. Gill
still very much in command. represents the transition, while Rohit
Rohit Sharma, 39, has just and Kohli represent the extraordi-
crossed 12,000 ODI runs. Virat Kohli nary generation that came before it.
has responded with a magnificent Yet the transition has not meant
139 not out and climbed to second disappearance.
place in the latest ICC ODI batting Instead, the older generation
rankings. Between them, they con- continues to contribute heavily when
tinue to demonstrate why experience India needs them. Rohit’s 101 in the
remains such a formidable weapon in second ODI came from 75 balls, with
international cricket. 10 fours and six sixes, while Gill pro-
Rohit’s 12,000-run landmark is duced his breathtaking double centu-
another extraordinary chapter in a ry in the same chase. The partnership
career that began in 2007. He reached between generations helped India
the mark in 282 innings, making him chase 406, their highest successful
the second-fastest batter to do so. ODI chase.
Only Kohli, who reached 12,000 in Rohit has another major ambi-
242 innings, got there faster. Sachin tion ahead: the 50-over World Cup
Tendulkar required 300 innings. winners’ medal that has eluded him.
The significance of Rohit’s After leading India to the final in
achievement goes beyond the num- 2023, that remains a significant un-
ber itself. He has joined an exclusive finished chapter in his ODI career.
Indian club containing Tendulkar and For Kohli, the motivation is dif-
Kohli, two names that have defined ferent but the hunger remains visible
batting excellence for generations. in the runs.
For a player who has spent years The arrival of Gill has inevitably
transforming himself from a gifted changed the conversation around
stroke-maker into one of the most Indian cricket. The spotlight increas-
destructive ODI batsmen in history, ingly falls on the young captain and
the milestone is another reminder of his extraordinary performances. But
his extraordinary longevity. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may no longer represent India’s future, but they remain a the latest evidence suggests that Indi-
Rohit now has 12,000 ODI runs powerful part of its present (ANI file photo) an cricket is not simply moving from
from 290 matches, including 34 cen- one generation to another.
turies and 62 fifties. His unbeaten 264 ence. Rohit has seen virtually every to second in the latest ODI batting For now, the old war horses are
against Sri Lanka in Kolkata in 2014 situation international cricket can rankings, with a rating of 796, behind still running.
remains the highest individual score produce. He knows when to attack, only Gill at 816. Rohit and Kohli may no longer
in men’s ODI cricket. He is also the when to absorb pressure and how to That ranking tells its own story. represent India’s future, but they re-
only batter to have three double cen- construct an innings. India now have three batsmen oc- main a powerful part of its present.
turies in the format. His latest landmark came during cupying the top two positions and Their records, experience and abili-
Those numbers explain why Ro- the same series in which Kohli pro- fourth place in the ODI rankings: ty to produce decisive innings mean
hit remains such a difficult player to duced another reminder of his en- Gill at No. 1, Kohli at No. 2 and Ro- that the next generation has not been
write off. during class. hit at No. 4. New Zealand’s Daryl handed the stage. It is having to share
His batting has always been built Kohli’s 139 not out in the first Mitchell is the only player preventing it with two of the finest batsmen Indi-
around timing and an almost effort- ODI was his 55th ODI century and an all-Indian top three. an cricket has produced.
less ability to accelerate. But age has his 86th international hundred across For Kohli, the latest century was And judging by the numbers, Ro-
brought another dimension: experi- formats. The innings pushed him up another statement of his remarkable hit and Kohli are not yet ready to leave.

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