Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has called on the Indian team management to provide clarity to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regarding their roles ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, stressing that players of their stature deserve transparent communication. He emphasised that uncertainty at this stage of their careers is unfair and that clear planning is essential as India build towards the next global event.
With both Rohit and Kohli having stepped away from Tests and T20Is to focus on ODIs, their roles remain central to India’s roadmap, but also part of a wider transition conversation. Speaking to India Today’s sister channel, Sports Tak, Yuvraj highlighted the need for honest dialogue between the head coach Gautam Gambhir, India selectors and the two stalwarts.
“I don’t know what’s going on in their minds. They look committed to playing the World Cup, but I think that decision lies with them and the selectors, who will have to decide the future. My point is that they are such great players, there has to be clarity,” Yuvraj said.
“You should be able to sit in a room and discuss things openly. It’s difficult, especially at that stage of your career. You may not like hearing that the team is looking ahead, but a year later you will appreciate that at least someone told you the truth to your face. That doesn’t really happen in Indian cricket,” he added.
Both Rohit and Kohli, meanwhile, have shown they remain integral to India’s ODI setup. Kohli has enjoyed a resurgence since late 2025, returning to the top of the ICC rankings with a more aggressive approach, including a prolific series against South Africa where he scored 302 runs in three matches at an average of 151 and a strike rate of over 117.
Rohit, on the other hand, starred in Australia with 202 runs in three matches at an average of 101, including a match-winning century in Sydney that sealed the series and helped him reclaim the No.1 ODI ranking spot at 38, only to be . However, his form dipped in the subsequent home series against New Zealand, where he managed just 61 runs at an average of 20.33.
WHY INDIA SHOULDN’T OBSESS OVER RO-KO DILEMMA
Yuvraj stressed that while the Rohit-Kohli debate will continue to dominate headlines, India’s focus should be on building a clear and structured roadmap towards the 2027 World Cup. For him, the bigger concern is not who plays, but how decisively the management communicates its vision to both senior players and the next generation.
“I don’t want any player who has represented the country for so many years to be stuck in a situation where no one sits down and tells them clearly what the plan is. Either commit to them for the World Cup and back them fully, or tell them that the team is looking at younger players. Someone has to say it. Tell them the reality. I think that should happen after this IPL,” Yuvraj said.
With emerging players like Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings but struggling for opportunities due to a settled top order, India face a balancing act between continuity and transition, making clarity even more crucial in the months ahead.
WILL ROHIT, KOHLI PLAY 2027 WORLD CUP?
For Yuvraj, the answer is not a simple yes or no, but one that depends on how India want to shape their squad. He emphasised that while planning for the future is essential, the value of experience in high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup cannot be underestimated.
“You need experience in the team, you can’t go in with only young players. You need someone like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the squad for the World Cup. But the point is, whatever you are thinking, you have to be clear with them. Don’t leave them in the dark, it’s not nice, not for them either,” he added.
“Rohit Sharma has probably been the best white-ball opener and a World Cup-winning captain in T20s and the Champions Trophy, so give him that respect. Virat Kohli is one of the greatest players of our generation from India, so he deserves that respect as well,” Yuvraj said.
As India look ahead to 2027, the numbers suggest Rohit and Kohli are far from done, but the bigger call is not just about form, it is about direction.
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