# Harbhajan backs Kohli and Rohit for 2027 World Cup, cites Messi 2026-08-13T10:57:36+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Harbhajan Singh has backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying performance should decide selection, not age. The former India spinner cited Lionel Messi, who at 39 led Argentina to a World Cup final, to argue that elite fitness and skill make age irrelevant. Kohli will be 39 and Rohit 40 when the tournament is played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Speaking to PTI, Harbhajan also credited Kohli for transforming India's fitness culture and winning mentality as captain from 2014-15 onwards. He advised head coach Gautam Gambhir to lean on the duo's experience of over 300 international matches rather than replace them with younger players. Harbhajan, who retired in December 2021, said both veterans will know internally when it is time to step away. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com - rediff.com - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: age debate, Cricket, Harbhajan Singh, odi world cup 2027, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/harbhajan-backs-kohli-rohit-for-2027-world-cup-cites-messi/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/harbhajan-backs-kohli-rohit-for-2027-world-cup-cites-messi/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.