Mithun Manhas breaks his silence on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future
This time next year, the ODI World Cup will have already kicked off. The tournament schedule has already announced on October 1st. And all teams have already started preparing for this marquee event. However, Indian fans are currently dissatisfied with the team's bowling unit. Meanwhile, rumors regarding Rohit Sharma's retirement had also grabbed headlines recently. Now, BCCI President Mithun Manhas has broken his silence on the ongoing debate regarding the selection of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
He stated that the selection of both senior players would be based not on their age, but on their fitness and performance. He also emphasized the importance of experienced players as India prepares for its next World Cup campaign.
Mithun Manhas remarked that as India moves towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be evaluated based on the contributions they can make on the field. According to the BCCI President, the final decision on selection does not rest with him; that responsibility lies with the selectors and the coaching staff.
During an interaction, he noted that age should not be the deciding factor when evaluating these two former Indian captains.
“As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment because it all depends on the selectors and the coaches. But from how I look at it, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, and definitely not age.
"If somebody is fit to play, and you see him performing and winning games for the country, that is the only criterion we should focus on.”
Additionally, he clarified that the team management needs to properly groom Shubman Gill for the responsibility of captaining the team in the upcoming ODI World Cup. Mithun Manhas believes that having experienced players around the captain could make this task easier, especially during high-pressure matches. Virat Kohli and Rohit possess extensive experience in major international tournaments, while Hardik Pandya also has captaincy experience. Manhas also highlighted Jasprit Bumrah's ability to lead the bowling unit and suggested that captaincy responsibilities could be shared within the team.
He noted that the value of experienced players extends far beyond their individual performances, as they can guide their younger teammates when the pressure mounts.
“Having Virat, Hardik and Rohit in the side will definitely help him. Then there are the likes of Bumrah, who could lead, who can be the bowling captain, and then somebody who will be the fielding captain. So, it is all about the distribution of workload.”
“They have been under pressure, and they have delivered so many times in crunch situations. So, it is a good combination.”
Manhas also shared his views on India's packed schedule. He emphasized the importance of squad depth, given the demands of a busy international calendar. With players competing across different formats and the potential impact of injuries on availability, a strong reserve pool can help keep the team competitive.
Regarding workload management, Manhas advocated for a BCCI approach that caters to the specific needs of individual players, rather than enforcing a one-size-fits-all plan for everyone.
