Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has strongly backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, following their standout performances in the ODI series against South Africa. Harbhajan said the pair should be the “first two names on the team sheet”, emphasising that their presence and experience remain invaluable.
The Ro-Ko duo was in explosive form throughout the series. Rohit Sharma registered two elegant half-centuries in the opening and final ODIs, while Virat Kohli delivered two successive centuries in Ranchi and Raipur, later capping his run with a fluent fifty in Visakhapatnam.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan urged the Indian management, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to avoid prioritising youth at the cost of proven match-winners.
“Are there bigger and better players than Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? You should not sideline them. Build the team around them. Experience is crucial in high-pressure games, and losing that in pursuit of youth can be risky,” Harbhajan said.
He added that the upcoming World Cup holds special weight, potentially the last for both modern-day greats.
“The way Rohit and Virat are batting makes the top order look rock solid. They maintain fitness and deliver when it matters. Yes, young talent must be encouraged, but ignoring proven performers in high-stakes tournaments would be a mistake,” Harbhajan noted.
Reflecting on the 2023 final heartbreak, he said India were exceptional under Rohit’s captaincy but faltered on a slow pitch, which Australia exploited. Still, he insisted that the two veterans should form the core around which the rest of the 2027 squad is built.
