'Rohit Sharma aur Virat Kohli ko mat roko': Sreesanth pleas Gautam Gambhir amid World Cup uncertainty

Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma (Photo: BCCI)

Former India pacer S Sreesanth waded into the ongoing discussion about India’s 2027 ODI World Cup blueprint. Making a frank appeal to head coach Gautam Gambhir, Sreesanth supported Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to be included in the plans as India prepare for the 50-over ICC competition. Sreesanth implored his former India teammate not to hold back the veteran pair.

"Gautam bhai aap coach ho aap kisi ko mat roko, especially Ro-Ko ko mat roko. Rohit aur Virat ka jo record hai behtareen hain aur jab tak woh khelna chahte hain unko khelne do. (Gautam bhai, you are the coach and you should not stop anyone, especially don't stop Ro-Ko. Rohit and Virat have outstanding records, and as long as they want to play, let them play).

"Because they are thousand times better than most of the players that are currently playing. So, I just want to say all the very best to Ro-Ko and please don't stop those brilliant legends Gauti."

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Kohli and Rohit, who now only play the ODI format, marked a strong comeback to Indian colours in October during the Australia tour. After a rusty start in his first competitive game since IPL 2025, Rohit hit a fighting half-century and a brilliant 121* to bag the Player of the Series award. Kohli, on the other hand, was dismissed for consecutive ducks before he chipped in with a match-winning 74*. The senior pros combined for a record 165-run stand for the second wicket in the final encounter of the three-match series in Sydney.

Back home against South Africa, Rohit continued his success with a third straight fifty-plus score and added yet another century stand with Kohli, who hammered a spectacular 135 in Ranchi on Sunday. His effort handed India a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.

However, the team management and selectors are still skeptical of their long-term commitment despite their recent performances. They are demanding that the senior pair play the Vijay Hazare Trophy later this month in accordance with the BCCI mandate. According to reports, Kohli has informed the DDCA of his availability, and Rohit has accepted to play in the domestic circuit.