Tag: ODI

Why Rohit and Kohli are Indispensable for India’s 2027 World Cup Squad

Pressure? What pressure? Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still have it!

Speculation was rife that the third ODI between India and England, held at Lord’s on Sunday, would be Rohit Sharma’s last international match, given his performances in the series decider.

Multiple reports had said the same thing in the lead-up to the match, as there was a general belief that neither the Indian selectors nor the team management saw him as part of India’s 2027 ODI World Cup team. But Rohit, who has not won this title in his illustrious career, has already made up his mind to be part of the 2027 World Cup team.

And when everything was going against him, Rohit was expected to perform with his bat, but there was no certainty that this would help him achieve his dream.

And that’s what he did. He scored a scintillating 138 off 110 balls, became the oldest Indian to hit a hundred in the 50-over format at 39, and became the first Indian to do so at Lord’s. This was his eighth hundred in the format in England.

There is no clarity on whether this knock was enough to keep him from being dropped, as the selectors want to give chances to a youngster like Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rohit could not have done much more to save his career.

It should be noted that besides skipper Shubman Gill, who scored a gritty 77 off 84 balls, the only other player who kept the team alive in the mammoth chase of 388 was Virat Kohli, who scored a brilliant 74 off 60 balls and almost took the team across the line.

Besides Rohit, Kohli is the other player whose future looks uncertain under Gautam Gambhir’s transition of the Indian team. But he remains in sublime form in this format, averaging 60 over his last 10 innings, which makes it difficult for the selectors to drop him.

Unlike Rohit, Kohli is not under too much pressure, but if he fails to perform in a few matches, his position will come under the spotlight. At the same time, this duo has also proved why they are undroppable from the side.

No substitute for Rohit and Kohli’s skills and experience. Although India lost the third ODI by 27 runs, they were still in the chase until the 45th over, when Kohli was dismissed. The visitors still needed 73 runs to win, and that did not look impossible.

But after Kohli’s dismissal, India’s middle order could not handle the pressure, and they failed to build crucial partnerships.

Kohli’s skill set probably helped him become one of the best chasers in the sport.

At the same time, Rohit has the brilliant ability to change gears quite easily once he is set. He helps the team reach the required run rate comfortably because he can smash fours easily.

This combination of skills has helped the Indian team become one of the best in this format over the last 15 years. Rohit can set the base, while Kohli can dominate in finishing a chase.

It was evident on Sunday when they went all guns blazing while chasing a mammoth target at Lord’s, smashing fours and sixes comfortably.

The Indian team will need the skill set and experience that both players have for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, considering the rest of the batting attack has not mastered the patience and skills needed to perform consistently on challenging surfaces, which produce bounce and movement, as South Africa will also have similar pitches.

Analyzing Rohit Sharma’s Struggles: Time for Change?

India’s star batter Rohit Sharma scored just 11 runs off 21 balls in the first ODI against England, again sparking discussion about his form as an opener. Fans of the Indian cricket team now want him to retire and believe Yashasvi Jaiswal should replace him, while the stats around his lean patch have drawn fresh attention.

Cricbuzz compared his powerplay performance in two phases: from January 2023 through the 2025 Champions Trophy, and from October 2025 onward. His lean patch is hard to ignore.

One of the biggest differences is his change in intent. He built his 50-over reputation as someone who could take the new ball to the cleaners, but India’s aggressive opener, who changed the team’s approach, is now a more cautious version of himself.

The numbers behind Rohit Sharma’s decline

From January 2023 to the Champions Trophy, Rohit was considered one of the best openers in the world. After 36 innings, he had scored 1,146 runs off 935 balls at an average of 67.41 and a strike rate of 122.57, with a powerplay boundary percentage of 20.9.

But his form since October 2025 has dipped sharply. After 13 innings, he had scored 267 runs off 310 balls, suggesting reduced output and a slow tempo for an Indian opener.

His strike rate fell from 122.57 to 86.13, a decline of more than 36 runs per hundred balls. The powerplay boundary percentage also dropped from 20.9 to 15.5, showing that the explosive batter who once gave the team much-needed starts has now faded.

The only silver lining is his batting average, which remains a respectable 44.50. Rohit is still opening and scoring runs, but his performance has not been the same since the Champions Trophy.

A decline that raises real questions

That’s why it has become difficult to ignore his lean patch. He will turn 39 this year, plays for India in just one format, and is gearing up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, where pitch conditions will require him to give the team a quick start with the new ball.

His supporters will highlight his brilliant average and incredible career record, which also includes a half-century in the last ODI against Afghanistan. One bad series shouldn’t dismiss two decades of batting prowess, and the Indian team management also hasn’t made any plans to move on from him yet.

Still, this trend is concerning and isn’t just about one inning. An opener whose career was known for aggressive powerplay batting has now become the slowest, and with Jaiswal also scoring runs consistently, Rohit will face immense pressure from now on.