Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma left on their own to decide international future

Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has shared his views on the ongoing debate over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future in ODI cricket, as they are aiming to finish their celebrated careers in the ICC World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Ian Bishop has boldly claimed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ICC World Cup 2027 hopes will depend entirely on their hunger, form, and fitness in the coming years, with both stars now in the latter stages of their careers.

Ian Bishop weighs in on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future

Rohit and Kohli are set to return to international action with the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, having last played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year.

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Their comeback has generated huge excitement, but questions continue to swirl about whether they can stay fit and motivated for another full World Cup cycle.

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By 2027, Rohit Sharma will be 40 and Virat Kohli 39, and at this age, very few cricketers maintain peak performance, but both Indian stars continue to show extraordinary fitness levels.

Ian Bishop was quoted as saying by PTI: “That’s their decision. I can’t answer that for Rohit or for Virat or for the BCCI. It depends on what their determination and skill are like. They’ve been fine so far.”

Ian Bishop backs Shubman Gill to grow as captain under the guidance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Meanwhile, the West Indies great also hailed Shubman Gill’s calmness and ability to handle pressure, but made it clear that Gill still has a lot to learn before becoming a complete leader.

The broadcaster believes that the presence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be crucial in shaping Gill’s growth as both a captain and a batter.

He believes the two senior pros will play a big role in guiding the youngster through his early challenges and helping him develop tactical awareness and leadership maturity over time.

Bishop further added, “He’ll be fine. Those two guys will help him along the way. He will grow in the job. He’s nowhere near the finished article. People have to give him that chance to grow as a captain, and as a batsman, he will grow as well."

"He has the temperament and the skill to lead, but the growth in captaincy and tactics is something that will take a couple of seasons to grow into. I’m sure he’ll get help from the two veterans.”

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Ian Bishop praises early signs of progress in the West Indies

Reflecting on the recent two-match Test series, Bishop praised India’s complete dominance but also found some positives for the struggling West Indies team.

He was pleased to see their batters spending more time at the crease and showing better discipline, with players like Shai Hope, John Campbell, and Justin Greaves putting up encouraging batting performances.

Spinner Jomel Warrican also delivered an impressive performance against India, and Bishop felt these small gains could serve as stepping stones for West Indies cricket. He noted that they still have a long way to go, but they have finally shown the improvement they needed for a fresh start.

Bishop signed off by saying, “From a West Indian perspective, it was great to see a few of the batters spending time at the crease. The trust they showed in the pitch was excellent. It’s not that they’ve arrived, but they’ve put some building blocks in place.”