Kapil Dev believes India’s selection committee should have the final say on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s chances of playing the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, rather than head coach Gautam Gambhir or ODI captain Shubman Gill. The former India captain feels the five-member panel led by Ajit Agarkar should be the primary decision-making body, and if the selectors want Kohli and Rohit in the squad, then the views of the coach and captain should carry less weight.
By the time the 2027 World Cup arrives, Kohli will be 39, and Rohit will be well past 40, an age at which very few cricketers still feature at the highest level. Even so, both senior batters have remained important figures in India’s white-ball setup, and their experience continues to be valued. At the same time, the pressure on them has grown, especially with several younger players pushing for regular opportunities and long-term roles in the team.
There have also been reports suggesting that the current management may prefer to move on from both veterans before the World Cup cycle is complete. Kapil Dev, however, made it clear that selection should begin with the committee and not be dictated by management preferences alone. “Look, management isn’t the main thing,” Kapil told India Today.
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“The selectors—there are five selectors—if their thought process is right, that’s what matters. First, there are five selectors. Then you go to the captain to ask, and then to the manager to understand their thought process. But first, if the five selectors have decided that he is good enough, then you don’t need to go to the captain or the manager. And if the selectors are doing their job properly, then it’s fine,” he added.
Kapil also addressed the broader challenge that comes with ageing in international cricket. While Kohli has no obvious backup and Rohit remains a major name in India’s ODI plans, both players will have to continue proving their fitness and form to remain part of the conversation.
“I don’t know what the selectors’ thought process is. Sometimes people say, yaar, how can a 25-year-old retire? But they do. And if you’re fit, if you have the ability, if you can play at 39 or 40—why not? If your performance is there, then don’t count age,” he said.
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Kapil then pointed out the double standard around poor form, noting that senior players are often judged more harshly than younger ones. “The problem with age is—if you hit a bad patch, the public and everyone will say, his time is up. But if the same bad patch happens to a 20-year-old, people say, no problem, time will come, he’ll come back,” he observed.
