The news of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s return to the ODI team has delighted fans, but former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has a stern word of advice.
Both have been included in the ODI squad for the Australia tour, but Pathan says that simply going to the gym isn’t enough.
Without match practice, they won’t be able to fulfill their 2027 World Cup dream. Pathan said that Rohit has focused on his fitness, but playing regular cricket is essential.
Both have already retired from Tests and T20s, so ODIs are their last chance.
Match fitness a big challenge
Pathan clearly stated in his YouTube video,
“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli want to play the 2027 World Cup, but match fitness will be a big challenge for them. Rohit has worked well on his fitness.
He is focused on that. But there’s regular fitness and match-time fitness… If you’re not playing regular cricket, both of them have to ensure some game time.”
Kohli is among the fittest players in world cricket, and Rohit also lost 10 kg for the Australia series. But Pathan’s point is clear: gym fitness is one thing, match fitness is another.
If these two now only play ODIs, the gap will widen. Only domestic cricket like the Ranji Trophy will keep them sharp.
Domestic cricket will secure a World Cup ticket
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has also made it clear that Kohli and Rohit’s places are not guaranteed. The team is being built around new-generation captain Shubman Gill. Pathan stressed that experience and stats alone will not suffice.
He said, “Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have to play domestic cricket. They are big players and know what to do. They have all the experience in the world. But they are not even playing T20Is, so there will be big gaps between the few matches that they play before the big World Cup.
They will need regular game time to be fit for that. Only then will their dream of playing in the 2027 World Cup come true.”
This advice could prove to be a game-changer for both. Three ODIs against Australia in October are the comebacks, but in the long term, domestic cricket will be the way forward for them.
