India's Kohli and Sharma Eye 2027 ODI World Cup Participation
The future of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Indian cricket team has become a topic of discussion as the country gears up for the 2027 ICC Men's One Day International World Cup. Morne Morkel, India's bowling coach, expressed confidence in both players continuing their international careers, emphasising the invaluable experience they bring to the squad. Kohli and Sharma, who have recently retired from Test and T20 formats, now focus solely on ODIs, making their role in the forthcoming World Cup pivotal.
Morne Morkel noted that as long as both players remain dedicated to maintaining their fitness, they could play a crucial role in the team's strategy. "They are quality players. As long as they are happy to put the hard work in and maintain fitness, I have always believed that to have that experience, you can't find it anywhere. They have won trophies, they know how to play big tournaments," Morkel stated.
The 2027 World Cup is still a significant distance away, and both Kohli and Sharma will be nearing the ages of 40 and 39, respectively, by then. However, Morkel remains optimistic about their capabilities. "For sure, if they maintain their fitness and they physically feel their bodies can do that, it’s still a long way away, the World Cup. By all means," he added.
India's preparations for the ODI series against South Africa come after a disappointing Test series, where they suffered a rare defeat at home. South Africa managed to secure a Test series victory in India for the first time in 25 years, having won both matches. Morkel acknowledged the disappointment but urged the team to focus on performing well in white-ball formats. "It was a disappointing two weeks for us. But we have had a couple of days to reflect. The important thing is to keep all our energy towards the white-ball team. We have been playing good white-ball cricket. A couple of fresh energy into the squad with Virat and Rohit coming back. Excited for the next couple of weeks playing white-ball cricket," he said.
In addition to updates on the senior players, Morkel provided information on the fitness of younger stars Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Gill suffered a neck spasm during the first Test, ruling him out of the second Test and the upcoming ODI series. Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to be sidelined for a longer duration due to a serious abdominal injury sustained during a recent match against Australia.
"I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him and he is recovering well. So that is pleasing to hear," Morkel noted. "Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So yeah, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. And the good thing is that they are healthy and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team," he added. The Indian cricket team is now poised to shift its focus entirely to its upcoming ODI fixtures against South Africa, with the return of Kohli and Sharma expected to bolster the squad's prospects.
