BCCI president says fitness, not age, will decide Kohli and Rohit selection
Mithun Manhas says age is irrelevant; Kohli and Rohit stay in contention if fit and scoring.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said selection for the 2027 ODI World Cup will be based on fitness and performance rather than age. He told Sportstar that the board leaves final decisions to selectors and coaches but made clear his view that only current form and physical condition should matter.
Kohli has scored 307 runs in his last five ODI innings at an average of 76.75, while Rohit has made 389 runs at 77.80 in the same period. Both players are expected to remain available provided they stay fit. Manhas added that their presence would help captain Shubman Gill distribute leadership workload across batting, bowling and fielding units.
The World Cup runs from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kohli will turn 39 during the tournament and Rohit will turn 40 before it begins.
CricHubb Take
By tying selection to fitness windows rather than calendar age, the BCCI effectively hands Kohli and Rohit a rolling contract that resets after every series they complete without injury.