Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue in India’s ODI setup until the 2027 World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with both veteran batters facing increasing scrutiny over their future in the 50-over format.

Ajinkya Rahane believes India should make use of the experience and quality that Rohit and Kohli bring rather than rushing to move towards a younger batting group. Both players have been key contributors to Indian cricket for more than a decade and have played important roles in numerous victories across formats.

The former India batter also pointed out that senior players often face intense criticism whenever they fail to score in an individual match. However, he believes their overall records and consistency should be considered when discussing their place in the ODI team.

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“Both Rohit and Virat are experienced. There are no bigger batters than them in ODIs. We all know Virat’s record and the consistency with which he scores. Nobody can question that,” Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube channel.

Rahane further stressed that India should focus on utilising the experience of the two former captains while they remain available. He argued that replacing players of their calibre could take considerable time.

“When you have these two, you should look at supporting them, carrying them, and looking at how you can use their experience. It is easy to look at the future, but you need to look at what is in your hands at present. You will not get players like them again and it will take a lot of time,” he added.

Rohit and Kohli are set to return to India’s ODI setup for the three-match series against West Indies, beginning on September 27. Their inclusion adds significant experience to the squad as India continues its preparations for the 2027 World Cup.

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The series will also give both batters an opportunity to build momentum in the ODI format and demonstrate their value ahead of the global tournament. With the 2027 World Cup still on the horizon, their performances against West Indies will be closely followed as discussions over India’s long-term batting combination continue.