Ex-World Cup winner picks Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in 2027 ODI World Cup squad, leaves out team India captain
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Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin casually sidelined Indian captain Shubman Gill from the 2027 World Cup squad, asking Virat Kohli to open the batting alongside the former skipper Rohit Sharma.
After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the longest format of international cricket, the coaches did not give them the liberty to feature in ODIs without performing. Rohit Sharma was also snubbed from captaincy, as India aimed to move towards a new dawn with new skipper Shubman Gill.
However, the two veterans of Indian cricket have proved once again why they are the modern-day greats of the 50-over format. Rohit started off with a staggering effort against Australia and then continued his form against South Africa, while Kohli has been reliving his prime at the twilight of his career.
Ravichandran Ashwin wants Virat Kohli to open alongside Rohit Sharma for the 2027 WC
Focused only on playing ODI cricket for India, Rohit Sharma worked hard to regain his shape and scored runs against Australia and South Africa, only to miss out against the Kiwis. Kohli, on the other hand, was unbeatable by the Proteas and the Black Caps.
With the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, India, the runners-up of the previous World Cup, would need their two most experienced batters to cope with the completely different conditions on the African continent.
Citing their form, a former teammate of the two veterans and 2011 ICC ODI World Cup winner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his desire to watch Virat Kohli open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma.
He said, "I don't know who will open. I would ideally like, I mean, in this case, why not Virat? Virat opens the batting in T20 cricket; why not Virat again? If he can open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma..."
🚨 Ravichandran Ashwin on YouTube:
— Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishek060722) March 14, 2026
Ashwin said, “If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli open in the 2027 World Cup, then Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer can bat at No. 3 and 4.”
Bro casually removed captain Shubman Gill from the XI. 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/BjuO2ElXVO
"Shreyas Iyer is a bona fide no. 4," Ashwin wants Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad to play in the 2027 World Cup
While Rohit Sharma was seen batting alongside Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2024, if that has to happen in ODIs, Shubman Gill has to be sidelined. Ashwin's choice of players in that top four never mentioned the Indian skipper.
He instead opined that if Shreyas Iyer returns to the team as the vice-captain, he is a bona fide choice for the middle order. But if Virat could be sorted in the top four alongside Rohit, then Ruturaj Gaikwad could make a promising no. 3 for India.
"......(If Virat Kohli can open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma....) Then, Ruturaj and Shreyas also come into the mix," opined Ashwin.
Ruturaj Gaikwad played a stunning hand in the win against South Africa but was dropped the very next series due to the return of the India vice-captain. Gaikwad can open the innings as well as bat in the middle order, hence making him more of an ideal pick for analysts like Ravichandran Ashwin.
Shubman Gill's ODI form as the captain of the Indian team
Shubman Gill has been in awful form since his return to the Indian ODI team and his appointment as the new skipper of the Men in Blue side. Having played three ODIs against Australia and then three more against New Zealand, Gill has managed to score two half-centuries and less than 200 runs in the 6 innings.
The skipper has not been in the best of batting form, and hence, his former No. 1 ODI batter status was soon taken over by his teammates Rohit Sharma and, now, Virat Kohli. Gill's lack of form saw him out of the ICC T20 World Cup team, and if he doesn't trigger back, then his place in the ODI World Cup squad could also be threatened.
Rohit Sharma could still make the ideal skipper to lead India in the next World Cup in 2027, making captaincy not the main reason for Shubman's selection.
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India National Cricket Team Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli Ravichandran Ashwin ICC World Cup 2027 Shubman Gill Ruturaj Gaikwad Shreyas IyerAbout the Author
This author is a member of Cricketaddictor who writes news and analysis related to cricket.
