'Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma should play Vijay Hazare Trophy': Ex-India captain's blunt take on duo's 2027 ODI World Cup dream

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has one piece of advice for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to fulfill their dream of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

The duo has been named in India's ODI squad for the three-match series in Australia. Virat Kohli and Rohit last played in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat won the IPL trophy for the first time on June 3, while Rohit's last competitive match for Mumbai Indians was on June 1.

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“They will have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy in India whenever it’s scheduled, if it doesn’t clash with any international ODI tournaments. That’s one way to stay in trim and maintain match practice," Gavaskar told India Today.

Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 37 when the 2027 World Cup comes around, and Gavaskar believes the veteran duo could find it difficult to remain in contention for selection unless they participate in domestic cricket.

“It depends to a great extent on the number of one-day matches that India plays over the next couple of years," said Gavaskar.

"Look, it’s not easy to be playing just seven or eight ODIs in a season while preparing for something as big as a World Cup.

"For those eight white-ball matches, there are probably five T20s and three ODIs. That is not giving much in terms of exposure or practice for players who are approaching the latter stages of their careers,” he added.


Gavaskar also took a sly dig at the duo's availability for the Australia tour.

“I’m pretty certain that if this were a trip to Zimbabwe or the West Indies, both of them would not have been available.

"But because this is in Australia, and because India lost to Australia in the World Cup final, maybe that is the reason why both of them have decided, yes, I want to be available for this,” he said.

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