Should Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma be automatic selections for the 2027 ODI World Cup, or should India begin the process of moving on? Former India captain MS Dhoni weighed in on the debate, making it clear that age, in his view, should never decide selection.
Dhoni, who led India to ODI and T20 World Cup titles along with a Champions Trophy win, said that if Kohli and Rohit are fit and performing, there is no reason they should not be part of the squad for the tournament in South Africa. Drawing from his own experience of playing the 2019 ODI World Cup late in his career, Dhoni added that the decision should ultimately rest with the players themselves.
“For me, age is not a criterion. Performance and fitness are the criteria,” Dhoni said at an event. “I always feel nobody should be told anything. But it should be clear that everyone will be treated the same way.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Dhoni said age was never discussed when he broke into the Indian team and should not become a talking point later either.
“When I made my debut, I was 24, nobody told me anything. And now when I’ve played for India for 10 years, 20 years or whatever, nobody needs to come and tell me about my age,” he added.
Need Experience in Team: MS Dhoni
The 44-year-old, who continues to feature in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, underlined the value of experience in major tournaments. According to Dhoni, World Cups demand players who have already lived through pressure situations and learnt how to manage them.
“You need players who have played 80 or 85 internationals to understand how to tame your heart, how to control emotions and handle pressure. The right balance between experience and youth is very important,” he said.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have so far remained non-committal on the future of Rohit and Kohli, both of whom now play only ODIs. Dhoni, however, insisted that selection must remain straightforward and uniform.
“Treat everyone equally. If people are performing, they’ll be there. If they’re not performing, they won’t be there. If a guy is not fit, you can chuck him out at any point,” he said.
“There should not be any question regarding any individual when it comes to selection. There’s only one criterion. You’re performing, you’re fit, keep playing.”
Kohli’s recent ODI form only strengthens Dhoni’s argument. In series against South Africa and New Zealand, the former captain has rediscovered peak touch, scoring three hundreds and two fifties. His evolution from an outright aggressor to a composed enforcer has added another layer to his game, and remains a significant positive for India going into a key phase in this World Cup cycle.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
