NEW DELHI
\nIndia\u2019s new head coach Gautam Gambhir believes veteran batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can both continue playing until the
\n2027 World Cup if they remain fit but said on Monday that the decision was entirely up to them.
\nRohit, 37, and his opening partner Kohli, 35, quit Twenty20 Internationals last month after the team\u2019s victory in the World Cup final against South Africa in
\nBridgetown but both men will continue to play test and 50-overs cricket.
\nSpeaking during his first press conference since replacing Rahul Dravid at the helm of the national team this month, Gambhir said the two stalwarts still had plenty to offer.
\n\u201cI think they\u2019ve shown what they can deliver on the big stage, whether it\u2019s the T20 World Cup or the 50-over World Cup,\u201d Gambhir told reporters.
\n\u201cOne thing I can be very clear of is that both those guys have a lot of cricket left in them. More importantly, with the Champions Trophy (in 2025) and a big tour of Australia (from November 2024), obviously, they would be motivated enough.
\n\u201cThen, hopefully, if they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup as well. But this is a very personal decision. I can\u2019t say how much cricket is left in them. Ultimately it\u2019s up to the players. How much can they contribute to the team\u2019s success.
\n\u201cUltimately, it\u2019s the team that\u2019s important. But looking at what Virat and Rohit can deliver, I think they still have a lot of cricket. They\u2019re world-class players and any team would want to have both of them for as long as possible.\u201d
\nGambhir\u2019s tenure officially begins when India play three T20 internationals and three ODIs in Sri Lanka starting on Saturday in Pallekele, with Suryakumar Yadav picked to lead the side in the shorter format ahead of Hardik Pandya.
\nPandya has had his share of injury issues in recent months and chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that though the all-rounder was an important player, the team needed someone who was likely to be available more often than not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI India\u2019s new head coach Gautam Gambhir believes veteran batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can both continue playing until the 2027 World Cup if they remain fit but said on Monday that the decision was entirely up to them. Rohit, 37, and his opening partner Kohli, 35, quit Twenty20 Internationals last month after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":420039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-420026","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n