Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina highlighted the significance of ODI skipper Shubman Gill benefiting from the experience of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming 2027 World Cup. Raina mentioned that the presence of Kohli and Rohit, who are actively involved in ODIs post their retirement from T20Is and Tests, could make a substantial difference in the tournament.
During the 2019 ODI World Cup, Rohit emerged as the top scorer with an impressive 648 runs in nine matches at an average of 81.00, including five centuries and a half-century. He notably became the first player in World Cup history to achieve five centuries in a single edition. In the 2023 edition, Kohli excelled as the leading run-scorer, accumulating a remarkable 765 runs in 11 innings, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in a single edition and earning the Player of the Tournament title.
Raina further emphasized the importance of physical and mental preparation for Kohli, noting his and Rohit’s prowess in white-ball cricket and their proven track record in ICC World Cups. He highlighted their ability to handle pressure in crucial knockout games and their valuable experience in winning ICC trophies, which enhances their leadership qualities and on-field presence.
The former spinner and coach Anil Kumble commended Shubman Gill for maintaining his batting form despite shouldering the captaincy responsibilities. Kumble praised Gill’s captaincy skills demonstrated in the IPL, where he showcased strategic acumen in managing bowlers, handling pressure situations effectively, and not allowing the captaincy role to impact his batting performance. Kumble also acknowledged the support and guidance provided by experienced players like Kohli and Rohit, enabling Gill to read the game better and make informed tactical decisions.
India is set to play three ODIs against Afghanistan starting from June 13 in Dharamsala, followed by matches in Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. However, Kohli will miss the series due to a hamstring injury sustained during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2026 campaign, with Yashasvi Jaiswal named as his replacement in the squad.
