Now Reading: Harbhajan backs Kohli and Rohit for 2027 World Cup, cites Messi
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Harbhajan backs Kohli and Rohit for 2027 World Cup, cites Messi
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
The endless age debate around Kohli and Rohit misses the real question. No one is saying senior players should be dropped automatically when they turn 38. The real test is whether an ageing squad blocks the next generation from getting World Cup exposure before 2027. Harbhajan's Messi comparison works only if Kohli and Rohit maintain match-winning form for three more years. If they go 12 months without a century, will the same voices still demand loyalty over youth?
Sources (3): sports.ndtv.com, rediff.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
