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Former India and Chennai Super Kings star Suresh Raina has backed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to be part of India's squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. Raina believes that the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could give the team a huge boost in the mega event.
The ICC ODI World Cup 2027 will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November. Rohit will be 40 years old, and Kohli will be 39 when the tournament begins, but Raina feels age should not become the only factor while deciding their place in the World Cup squad. Amid this, Ashish Nehra was in the frame for CSK head coach job, reveals Ravichandran Ashwin.
Suresh Raina wants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India’s 2027 World Cup squad
Suresh Raina believes that India should consider the massive experience of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as captains and batters while building the team for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. He feels the presence of both former captains could give India a very strong chance of lifting the trophy.
Raina also highlighted Kohli and Rohit’s huge contribution to Indian cricket and their experience of playing in the ICC tournaments. The 2011 World Cup winner believes that the modern batting legends can bring calmness and confidence to the team in big matches under pressure.
Suresh Raina was quoted as saying by Rediff, "We have a run machine at home, and we have a great captain who has won so many trophies in the IPL and for the country. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need no introduction because I have played a lot of matches with them. This time, we are playing the World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and I think having both of them in the team gives us a 90 percent chance of winning the trophy.”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s stunning numbers at India’s 2023 World Cup run
Both players were among India's biggest performers in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. Kohli finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer after smashing 765 runs in 11 matches.
He scored those runs at an outstanding average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31. His campaign included three centuries and six fifties. However, India suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Rohit was also outstanding throughout the tournament. The former Indian captain scored 597 runs at an average of 54.27 and a strike rate of 125.94. He scored one century and three fifties while leading India to the final. In that edition, India lost only in the title clash.
Kohli's huge World Cup record
Virat Kohli is already one of the greatest run-scorers in ODI World Cup history. He has scored 1,795 runs in 37 World Cup matches at an average of 59.83 and a strike rate of 88.20.
His World Cup record includes five centuries and 12 half-centuries. Only legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with 2,278 runs, has scored more runs than Kohli in the tournament's history. Amid this, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to play all 3 ODIs vs South Africa.
Rohit among the World Cup's top run scorers
Rohit Sharma is fourth on the all-time ODI World Cup run-scoring list. He has scored 1,575 runs in 28 matches at an average of 60.57 and an impressive strike rate of 105.49. The Indian opener has smashed seven World Cup centuries and six half-centuries.
Rohit was surprisingly left out of India's 2011 World Cup squad, but he has since produced outstanding numbers in the last three editions of the tournament. With both players approaching the later stages of their careers, their future in ODI cricket will remain a major talking point.
