IPL Chairman all but confirms Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli will play till 2027 World Cup

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal made a bold statement on veteran Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s chances of playing the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Dhumal stated that Rohit and Virat are part of India’s plans for ODIs despite nearing the end of their careers.

With Rohit and Virat active only in the ODI format, their spots in the team for the 2027 World Cup are not guaranteed. Their inclusion will hinge on form and performance over the next few years. The veterans are expected to maintain their form and fitness as they aim to help India push for the World Cup title.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Are Here to Stay - IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal

Arun Dhumal called Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli “greats” for their quality and commitment. Dhumal stated that despite speculation about their futures, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are far from stepping away from the 50-over format.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“And then you have these greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who people think are going, but they aren’t going. They are here to stay," Dhumal said while speaking to ANI.

"And the way Rohit has shown his class in this ODI series, at that age, coming as Player of the Match in the final game and then Player of the Series, that shows the kind of conviction that they carry, the kind of hard work that they put in," he added.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Is Knocking at the Door to Be Part of the Team - Arun Dhumal

Arun Dhumal praised India’s growing depth in talent, including 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He noted that India’s bench strength has been discussed for years. Dhumal hinted that Vaibhav is already close to breaking into the national setup.

“We have been talking about this bench strength of the Indian team for a long, long time. But look at this team, a 14-year-old wonder, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he is knocking at the door to be part of the team," Dhumal stated.

After starting the series with back-to-back ducks, Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 74 off 81 deliveries. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, smashed a century, earning him both the Player of the Match award and the Player of the Series title.

The former Indian captain scored 202 runs in three matches at an outstanding average of 101 and a strike rate of 85.59, including a half-century and a century.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Breakthrough Came During IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals

Vaibhav Suryavanshi won the Super Striker of the Season award after a remarkable debut campaign for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished in ninth place in the standings. Suryavanshi scored 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate above 200.

The left-handed batter smashed 101 runs off 38 balls against a strong Gujarat Titans (GT) attack featuring Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, and Rashid Khan.

Suryavanshi also impressed in youth international cricket. He scored 143 off 78 deliveries against England U19s in Worcester and finished as the leading run-getter in the five-match series with 355 runs at an average of 71.

Also read: Tim David mentally destroyed by Varun Chakravarthy’s mind games as India spinner has the last laugh at MCG