‘Rohit, Kohli may not play 2027 World Cup’: Gavaskar backs Bumrah for Test captain

Sunil Gavaskar doubts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play the 2027 ODI World Cup despite their recent retirements, backs Jasprit Bumrah to be the next India captain.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar says he does not foresee Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing the 2027 ODI World Cup as is being widely anticipated after the duo announced its Test retirement.

Sunil Gavaskar, who regards them as colossal figures in Indian cricket, does not believe that their recent Test retirement and last year's T20 retirement will have a bearing on enhancing their chances of playing the 2027 showpiece.

"No, I don't think they will be playing," Gavaskar told 'Sports Today'.

“...I’m being very honest, I don’t think they’ll be there. But who knows in the next year or so, they strike this rich vein of form and they keep scoring hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and even God can’t drop them”. The pair was instrumental in India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.

“Well, they have been massive performers in this format of the game. Do we feel that they will be in the team for the 2027 World Cup? Will they be able to make the kind of contribution they have been making?”

"So that's going to be the thought process of the selection committee. And if the selection committee feels that 'yes', they will still be making that huge contribution that they have been making, then both of them will be there for that," added Gavaskar.

The former Indian captain wasn't surprised by Virat Kohli's timing and said both players might have taken the decision after conversations with selectors, and appreciated that they exited on their own terms.