BCCI signals performance-first policy for 2027 World Cup selection

BCCI president Mithun Manhas said fitness and performance, not age, should guide selection for the 2027 ODI World Cup, effectively removing chronological limits on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The tournament runs from October 2 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kohli will turn 39 and Rohit 40 during the event.

Manhas framed the policy as a continuation of the men's team's succession model where senior players remain available to mentor incoming captains. He said Kohli, Rohit and Hardik Pandya would help Shubman Gill manage workload distribution alongside Jasprit Bumrah's potential role as bowling captain. The approach treats experience as distributed leadership capacity rather than individual playing time.

The policy aligns with earlier transitions where Sourav Ganguly guided MS Dhoni and Dhoni supported Kohli and Rohit. Manhas said the presence of proven performers in pressure situations strengthens the team's ability to handle difficult decisions during matches.