NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have put to rest all concerns about their form and fitness with their performances, which had lingered ever since both stalwarts became single-format players following their retirements from Tests and T20Is.
Former South African great Jacques Kallis also came out in support of the two legendary players, stating that no one knows better than Kohli when to call it quits, while Rohit also deserves a place in India's squad for the 2027 World Cup.
Virat Kohli becomes the fastest to complete 28,000 runs in international cricket
With the 2027 World Cup set to be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, questions have surfaced about whether age and reduced match exposure could affect the longevity of India's star duo.
Rohit will turn 40 by the time the tournament arrives, while Kohli will be 38. Despite this, Kallis believes the choice to continue should rest entirely with the players themselves, given their vast experience and deep understanding of their own fitness.
"He (Virat Kohli) obviously knows his body when you want to call it quits. Hopefully, he goes out to the bank. He certainly deserves it. Fantastic player (Rohit Sharma) and hopefully he also deserves to go out to the bank," Kallis was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Rohit Sharma's love affair with sixes continues, makes history in Vadodara
Kallis also shared his thoughts on South Africa's prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He expressed optimism that the lessons from recent high-pressure matches would help the team finally overcome the hurdle and claim the title this time.
"Well, hopefully this tournament now will give the guys a head start on that tournament. And they need a little bit of luck to win it. Hopefully, things fall in place for us," he said.
