NEW DELHI– Cricket greats Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have weighed in on whether Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can make it to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, saying “only time will tell” if the two legends will still be around by then.
Both Rohit and Kohli, who retired from Tests and T20Is over the past 18 months, now play exclusively in the 50-over format. The pair returned to international action earlier this month in Perth, their first appearance since the ICC Champions Trophy, where they managed modest scores against Australia.
“When you come back from a long layoff, you’re obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri said on The ICC Review. “It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia two days before a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away, especially against quality fast bowlers.”
Shastri cautioned against early judgment, emphasizing that form and mindset matter more than age. “When you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger and passion are still there,” he said. “If you tick two of those three boxes, especially enjoyment, then you give them time. They’ve got class, they’ve got experience. I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately.”
Ponting echoed Shastri’s view, suggesting Kohli in particular may set short-term goals to measure his motivation during the Australian tour. “The one thing I don’t like hearing is, ‘I’ve achieved everything in the game,’” Ponting said. “You still need short-term goals and not just hang on to get through to the 2027 World Cup. Virat’s always been highly motivated, and I’m sure he’s set himself some targets for this series in Australia.”
Ponting said both players could soon find their rhythm. “Finding your tempo in 50-over cricket takes a little time after a break,” he explained. “But I expect both to bounce back quickly. Adelaide is a great place to bat, though it won’t be easy—they’re facing some of the best white-ball bowlers in the game.”
The former Australian captain added that writing off players of Rohit and Kohli’s caliber would be a mistake. “You don’t write off champion players ever,” Ponting said. “They’ve been two of the best, and I’ve said before that Virat is the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen. They’ll find a way to contribute and win games for India—and if they do that, they’ll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027.” (Source: IANS)
