NEW DELHI: With the 2027 ODI World Cup now just over a year away, former India batter Aakash Chopra believes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli do not need to prove anything beyond what they have already done — they simply need to keep scoring runs.Rohit and Kohli are set to return to India’s ODI side for the three-match home series against the West Indies, beginning in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. With Shubman Gill leading the side and KL Rahul named vice-captain, the experienced duo’s form will be one of the major talking points as India begin to shape their plans for the World Cup in South Africa.“The World Cup is just one year away now, and I know that if Rohit and Kohli get in, they will score runs, win you matches, and possibly win you trophies. So, looking at it from this perspective, the only expectation from Rohit and Kohli is just this: keep scoring runs,” Chopra told JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’.
‘They’ll score runs, win you matches’
Both batters have remained productive in ODIs this year. Kohli has scored 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64.00 and a strike rate of over 106, with a century and three fifties.Rohit, meanwhile, has made 379 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.11 and a strike rate of over 99. His tally includes a century and a fifty, with his best score being 138 against England at Lord’s.For Chopra, their experience could become particularly valuable as India move towards the next World Cup.Rohit and Kohli are part of the 15-member squad for the West Indies ODIs alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Shreyas Iyer, who has been part of India’s recent ODI plans, is unavailable as he leads the Asian Games campaign.Chopra also backed the selectors’ overall composition of the squad, including the decision to bring in Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper.“With the available players, you try and make the most of what you have. The biggest change you notice is that KL Rahul has been made vice-captain in place of Shreyas Iyer because Shreyas Iyer will be at the Asian Games. There was certainly a question mark over Rishabh Pant, but I also liked Dhruv Jurel’s selection. So, considering all of that, a very good team has been picked, and full marks to the Indian team selectors,” he said.
Jaiswal-Gaikwad reserve battle, Pant’s white-ball future
Chopra also identified a potential battle between Jaiswal and Gaikwad for a reserve batting spot ahead of the 2027 World Cup.“You have to think about who you can take along as reserves for the World Cup. So, there will be a toss-up here between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are both part of this team, and whenever they have played, they have scored a lot of runs. So, I am looking at an opportunity opening up for one of these two. Auqib Nabi (maiden ODI call-up for West Indies series) has been travelling with the team for some time now, but is not getting a chance to play in the XI. If he gets his opportunity, I will be quite excited to see him perform.”Chopra also spoke about Rishabh Pant’s omission from the ODI squad, despite his continued importance in the longer format.“Rishabh Pant is a very strange and very unique case. While he is playing Test cricket and is a very important member of the red-ball side, he was stripped of his vice-captaincy duties there as well. But in ODI cricket, without playing, he has been bid goodbye. At the same time, he has been made the captain of the Rest of India (ROI), which also tells you that, with respect to red-ball cricket, they are very serious about Rishabh playing a huge role in the longer format. But for white-ball cricket, as of now, I think this selection committee has made up its mind,” he said.The series will also provide an opportunity for Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with Chopra highlighting the competition for all-rounder spots ahead of the World Cup.“One big highlight, in my opinion, was pulling Nitish Kumar Reddy out of the Asian Games and playing him here. So, if Hardik Pandya is not available someday, they really want somebody who can bowl pace and bat as well. Ravindra Jadeja will have to, of course, take wickets and score runs. Fielding has always been his strong suit. But from a World Cup point of view, you have Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, and not all of them will go to South Africa. So, someone will be left out, and therefore, every time you get an opportunity, you have to grab it with both hands,” he said.India face the West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30 before the series concludes in Chandigarh on October 3.
