After Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ended their Test and Twenty20 International careers, former England spinner Monty Panesar feels that India should stick with the team’s mainstays in the ODI format. He also thinks that choosing their replacements won’t be too difficult for India.
In the lead-up to the England Test series, the two former captains announced their retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) following their 2024 victory in the T20 World Cup.
Questions have been raised over whether the two greats will remain till the 2027 ODI World Cup, with only the 50-over format remaining.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Panesar stated that although Rohit and Kohli are crucial to the team, their possible absence might not be a major issue considering the talent India has at its disposal.
“India should try to keep playing with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.” They are really important and have a lot of experience, but I believe they might be there for the World Cup since other players are emerging.
“I believe it has a lot to do with India’s bench because we’ve seen how rapidly we move on from the senior players in the test series. India has really powerful players all over the place, and even if they are unable to play, they will likely find substitutes fast thanks to their strength, Panesar told IANS.
The 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai was the last time Indian cricket fans witnessed the pair play in their country’s colors. India defeated New Zealand in the final to win the title. After winning the 2023 Asian Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, it was the team’s third major trophy under Rohit’s direction.
The Indian team will prepare for the Asia Cup, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, following the conclusion of the fifth and final Test match against England at The Oval in London. In anticipation of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka the following year, the regional event will be played in T20 format this time.
When India tours Australia for the white-ball series, which begins with three ODIs, spectators will have to wait until October to witness the seasoned hitters Rohit and Kohli wearing their Indian uniforms.
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