Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements from Tests and T20 Internationals over the last 18 months and now feature exclusively in the 50-over format.
Photo: IANS
The much-anticipated international return of India’s illustrated duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might have been marred by their modest returns in the series-opening ODI against Australia in Perth, but former India head coach Ravi Shastri and Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting believes that while age and longevity will be talking points in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, the defining factor for the veteran pair will remain their hunger and enjoyment for the game, qualities that have long made them two of the most influential cricketers of their generation.
Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements from Tests and T20 Internationals over the last 18 months and now feature exclusively in the 50-over format. Irrespective of their contributions with the bat, their comeback sparked widespread debate over whether they can sustain their careers through to the next World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
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Another important question that lingers is whether the long break from international cricket, considering the pair now exclusively features in 50-over matches, has impacted their rhythm and form, especially given the challenge of returning to top-flight cricket in demanding Australian conditions.
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Speaking on The ICC Review, both Shastri and Ponting agreed that only time will reveal if the two stalwarts will still be around when the next World Cup comes along.
“When you come back from a long layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri noted.
“It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia, say, two days prior to a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away, especially when you have that extra bounce and against quality fast bowlers.
“But I think only time will tell. They’ll go to Adelaide, they have some time off to get into the nets, get their minds sorted and get back into action. So I’m in no hurry to judge, but it’s when you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger is there and passion is left in you to play the game.
“So if you tick the boxes in two out of those three, especially the enjoyment part of it, then you can give them both time because they’ve got class, they’ve got experience and a little bit of time will sort things out. But I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately,” he added.
Immediate focus on bilateral series
Ponting appeared to be on the same page with Shastri, saying Kohli, in particular, may be setting short-term personal goals during the ongoing Australian tour, goals that could help him decide whether to continue his international journey toward 2027.
“The one thing I don’t like hearing from anyone is that ‘I’ve achieved everything in the game’ because I think you still have to have some really short-term goals and not just be hanging on to try and get through to the 2027 World Cup,” Ponting said.
“Virat’s always been a highly motivated person. And I’d like to think that he’s probably sat down and even just given himself some goals and things that he can achieve in this series here in Australia and not be just waiting and killing time for that next World Cup to come around.
“What we know with both of those guys, at their absolute best, yes, of course they’re in India’s best team. But can they find their best between now and when that World Cup rocks around?
“And that’s only an answer that, like Ravi said, that we’ll find out in a short period of time. They will get some really good batting wickets coming up over the next few weeks here in Australia. There’s not many places that are better to go and bat in a one-day game than Adelaide Oval, which is coming up in a couple of days,” he added.
Ponting believes it is only a matter of time before Rohit and Kohli regain their rhythm, possibly as early as the next ODI in Adelaide.
“Finding your rhythm and tempo is the biggest thing. When you’ve had a break, just getting back used to the rhythm and the tempo of the 50 over game again, it takes a little bit of time for anybody,” Ponting said.
“I’d expect to see both those guys bounce back into it pretty quickly. As I said, Adelaide is a great place to bat and a great place to play cricket. But it won’t be easy for the fact that they are facing some of the best white-ball bowlers that have ever played the game. So, the challenge is definitely there.
“But I say it all the time, you don’t write off champion players ever. And these two guys have been two of the best, and while I’m on record saying I think Virat’s the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen, you don’t write them off. They’ll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, then they’ll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027,” he asserted.
No threat to their legacy
Both Shastri and Ponting also echoed similar sentiments on the veteran pair having already achieved so much in their respective careers, that their legacy will remain strong regardless of when they decide to completely hang up their boots.
Shastri, who spent a considerable amount of time in the Indian dressing room when both Kohli and Rohit were at their peak, knows better than most the kind of impact and legacy the two have built, not just in India, but globally and especially in Australia, where they enjoy immense respect from fans.
“The contribution is not over two or three years. The contribution is over a decade, decade and a half in the case of Virat,” Shastri noted. It’s massive and people don’t forget that,” he said.
“And they’ve played against some of the best bowlers that have been part of the game. It’s special. Their legacy will remain. Whether they finish tomorrow or they finish the day after or whenever. That legacy will remain,” he noted.
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