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    STUMP VISION                                                        OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye 42

             Kohli, Rohit Eye 2027 World Cup as India’s

                       Old Guard Returns for Australia ODIs

                 With Dinesh Karthik confirming Kohli’s renewed hunger and Travis Head hailing the

             Indian duo as white-ball greats, India’s veterans prepare for another chapter Down Under.

            OUR BUREAU
            Perth

                  s India begins its limited-overs campaign in
                  Australia this weekend, all eyes are on two
            Aof the modern greats of world cricket — Vi-
            rat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — both making their
            return to international action since lifting the ICC
            Champions Trophy earlier this year. Amid specu-
            lation about their future, recent comments from
            players, selectors, and even opponents suggest that
            India’s senior-most batting pair is not done yet. In
            fact, both seem intent on taking another shot at the
            ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027.
                Adding to the excitement surrounding India’s
            first ODI in Perth on Sunday, former India wicket-
            keeper and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
            mentor Dinesh Karthik revealed that Kohli has
            already set his sights on the 2027 World Cup. In
            a video shared on social media, Karthik said the
            36-year-old star had resumed intense training
            during his recent break in London.
                “He is keen to play the World Cup 2027. In
            London, he was training during this big lay-off
            that he has had after a long time in his life. He was
            practising cricket, 2–3 sessions a week. He is seri-
            ous about wanting to play the World Cup 2027,”
            Karthik said.
                Kohli’s determination, Karthik noted, comes
            from  his  desire  to  stay  match-fit  and  mentally
            sharp even during breaks. His numbers back that
            hunger. The former captain remains India’s sec-
            ond-highest run-getter in ODIs with 14,181 runs                                 Virat Kohli (ANI file photo)
            in 302 matches at an average of 57.88, including 51
            centuries — the most by any player in the format.
            Earlier this year, Kohli was instrumental in India’s   “Having played a lot against him in the IPL   matches at an average of 64.11, with four centuries
            Champions Trophy triumph, scoring 218 runs in   and international cricket, I have huge regard for   and nine half-centuries.
            five matches, including a century against Pakistan   what Rohit has been able to do. It’s nice watching   Just days before returning to the field, Kohli
            and a vital 84 in the semifinal against Australia.  from afar — why not watch the best and learn from   dropped a cryptic message on social media — “The
                Australia’s top-order batter Travis Head also   the best?” he added.                   only time you truly fail, is when you decide to give
            weighed in on the Indian duo’s longevity and im-  India’s all-rounder Axar Patel echoed the op-  up” — sparking fresh speculation about his long-
            pact. Ahead of the Perth ODI, he hailed both   timism within the camp, saying both Rohit and Vi-  term plans. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar
            Kohli and Rohit as two of the best white-ball play-  rat are “ready to go” after completing their fitness   swiftly put retirement rumors to rest during the
            ers in history and said he would not be surprised if   tests and intensive training sessions.  squad announcement for the Australian tour.
            they aim to play through the next World Cup cycle.  “They  are  world-class  players.  They  know   “Not as far as I know,” Agarkar said when
                “They have been awesome for India. Two   what to do, and they are ready. They’ve been pre-  asked  if  Kohli  or  Rohit  were  considering  retire-
            quality  players,  two  of  the  best  white-ball  play-  paring well; everyone has given their fitness test,   ment. “They’ve both done their fitness tests. We’ve
            ers. Virat is probably the greatest white-ball   and they are raring to go now,” Axar said.  picked them with the 2027 World Cup in mind.
            player; Rohit is not that far behind,” Head said.   Since India’s last bilateral series against Aus-  Obviously, with the captaincy change, that’s gen-
            “I am sure they will be missed at some stage, but I   tralia before the 2023 ODI World Cup, both Rohit   erally the thought.”
            think they both are going until 2027. It’s great for   and Kohli have maintained remarkable consis-  Agarkar’s comments confirmed what insiders
            the game that they are still playing.”       tency. Rohit has scored 1,137 runs in 23 ODIs at   have long hinted — the selectors view the senior
                Head, who opens the batting for Australia,   an average of 49.43 and a stunning strike rate of   pair as integral to India’s next ODI cycle, even as
            said he looks up to Rohit’s fearless approach at   123.45, including two centuries and seven fifties.   younger leaders like Shubman Gill begin to take
            the top.                                     Kohli, meanwhile, has piled up 1,154 runs in 22   over in select formats.

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