Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Dhawan backs Rohit, Kohli for India's 2027 World Cup push
A famous former cricket player named Shikhar Dhawan said two of his old teammates are still great players.
Those teammates are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and they play for India.
Some people wonder if they are too old to play in the big World Cup in 2027.
Rohit is 39 years old, and Virat is 37 years old.
Dhawan said their age does not matter because they play really well.
Recently, Rohit scored a hundred runs at a famous cricket ground called Lord's.
Virat also scored two half-centuries in the same series against England.
India did not win that series, but the two players scored a lot of runs.
Dhawan believes they will help India win the World Cup.
He has known both players since they were about 16 years old.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to add value to India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad.
Dhawan cited Rohit's century at Lord's during July's ODI series against England as proof of his ability under pressure.
Dhawan praised Kohli's exceptional fitness and sustained performances, saying the more he is praised, the less it seems enough.
India lost the three-match ODI series against England 2-1 despite strong batting performances from the duo.
Questions persist over whether 37-year-old Kohli and 39-year-old Rohit can feature in the 2027 World Cup because of their age.
- Who
- Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan, along with cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
- What
- Dhawan backed Rohit and Kohli to add value to India's squad and help the team win the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- When
- Comments made on Thursday at the inauguration of the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation's first STEM Lab; the relevant ODI series was played in July.
- Where
- On the sidelines of the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation STEM Lab inauguration, with Rohit's century scored at Lord's.
- Why
- Dhawan believes their experience and consistent performances remain invaluable despite questions about their age.
Critics questioning age
Dhawan's confidence in the veterans
Age vs experience at the 2027 World Cup
Critics questioning age
Persistent questions remain over whether 37-year-old Virat Kohli and 39-year-old Rohit Sharma can feature in the 2027 World Cup because of their age.
Dhawan's confidence in the veterans
Dhawan says their experience and stellar performances will add great value to the team and help India win the World Cup.
- Supporting figure
- Shikhar Dhawan, former India opener
- Players backed
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
- Target tournament
- 2027 ODI World Cup
- Ages of players
- Rohit Sharma 39, Virat Kohli 37
- Recent performances vs England
- Rohit's century at Lord's; Kohli's two half-centuries
- ODI series result
- India lost 2-1 to England in July
- Occasion
- Inauguration of Shikhar Dhawan Foundation's first STEM Lab