New Delhi — Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has weighed in on the future of Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the ODI format, comparing them to global football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Latif, 57, said the decision on whether the two senior players will feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup ultimately rests with India’s team management. However, he believes that India should ensure at least one of them remains in the starting XI to maintain the team’s strength and experience.
“There’s still a whole year left until 2026. We have to see how many ODIs they will play, but the seniors should definitely be there,” Latif said. “One-day cricket is a long-format game — it’s not like T20s. Even if not both, at least one of them must be part of the team.”
Latif noted that India’s depth in batting talent can make team selection complicated. He pointed to players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and KL Rahul, who are all competing for limited spots, and said that even strong performers can miss out simply due to the competition.
“Sometimes you have players available but can’t fit them into the playing XI,” he explained. “There are many factors to consider. But if it’s not possible to have both Rohit and Virat in the XI, at least one should definitely be included.”
Latif recalled a recent example from India’s third ODI against Australia, where Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 121 and Kohli finished on 74 not out, leading India to a dominant nine-wicket victory.
“Both are great players — the kind who can change the course of a game,” Latif said. “Class is permanent. Ronaldo is still playing, Messi is still playing — and these two are India’s Ronaldo and Messi.” (Source: IANS)
