Mithun Manhas says fitness and performance should decide Kohli and Rohit World Cup places
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said fitness and performance, not age, should decide Kohli and Rohit selection for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said fitness and performance, not age, should determine whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma feature in India's squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Manhas told Sportstar that selectors and coaches make the final call, but he believes a player who is fit and winning matches for the country meets the only relevant criterion.
He added that Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Rohit would help new ODI captain Shubman Gill by sharing workload and providing leadership across disciplines. Kohli and Rohit have both scored centuries in the recent ODI series against the West Indies. Kohli will turn 39 during the tournament, while Rohit will be over 40.
Manhas said experienced players around Gill would distribute leadership duties, with Bumrah and others serving as bowling captains while a separate fielder takes charge of that aspect.
CricHubb Take
Manhas has set a performance-based test that both veterans must still meet, shifting the burden from age to output at a moment when India is building around a young captain.