Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Locked in for World Cup, Says Kris Srikkanth

Kohli and Rohit Have Sealed 2027 World Cup Spots, Says Kris Srikkanth

Former India selector Kris Srikkanth has said there should be no doubts about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma making it to the 2027 World Cup, as the duo has already secured their places. In their 392nd international match together, Kohli and Rohit put on a 136-run partnership off 109 balls, helping India post 349 in 50 overs.

The partnership proved decisive as India won the match by 17 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Kohli scored a brilliant 135, while Rohit contributed a quick 57, breaking the record for the most sixes in ODIs. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said India’s World Cup plans depend heavily on the star pair.

“Kohli and Rohit are playing on another level. Without these two, the 2027 World Cup plans will not work. You need Rohit at one end and Virat at the other. There should be no questions asked,” Srikkanth said. He added that it was the Ro-Ko partnership that swung the Ranchi match in India’s favor. They scored 80 runs in the powerplay, and by the time the stand ended, India had reached 161 in just 21.2 overs.

“Since 2013, Rohit and Virat have consistently scored heavily and taken down oppositions. Today, they batted South Africa out of the game. Yes, South Africa fought back, but their partnership finished the job,” Srikkanth added. The former selector also praised their fitness and commitment, despite playing only one format.

“It’s not just about the runs. They have worked very hard on fitness. Virat and Rohit are playing only one format, and it’s not easy to maintain your mindset this way. As far as I’m concerned, their spots for the 2027 World Cup are sealed. No. 1 and No. 3 slots are locked. We can’t win without them,” he said.

Ro-Ko will be back in action during the second ODI against South Africa on Wednesday, December 3.