Exclusive | 'Will be happy if they are not in the team...': Rahmanullah Gurbaz's candid take on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's possible participation in 2027 ODI World Cup

Afghanistan cricketer Rahmanullah Gurbaz wanted Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup because their absence would generate more chances for his team to win the tournament. The mega event will be hosted by South Africa, where India enters as the last edition's runners-up.

Gurbaz on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Senior batting duo Rohit and Virat, who already retired from Tests and T20Is, are currently featuring in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, where the opening batter smashed a half-century, and Kohli completed his 52nd ODI ton as the KL Rahul-led side registered a 17-run win in the series opener to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In the exclusive chat with Sports Tak, Afghanistan star Gurbaz said that every participating team would be happy if Rohit and Virat would'nt feature in the ODI World Cup 2027.

"As an Afghanistan player. I will be happy if they are not in the team because if they play against me. Because if they are not in the team we will have more chance to win. They are legends. There is no chance for someone to come and say that Virat shouldn't be in the team and Rohit shouldn't be in the team" Gurbaz told Sports Tak.

If they're not in the team, every team will be happy. So there is such a big names and with the names plus they are very good players, right?

Notably, batting great Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are one of the most experienced played in the one-day format, as Kohli holds the record for most centuries in the format, and Rohit Sharma is the highest six-hitter.

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Why are there questions around Rohit and Virat's ODI WC 27 participation

Rohit and Virat are auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form as the World Cup is two years away, but both the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the mega event.

Rohit and Virat's upcoming outing

Rohit and Virat will now feature in the second ODI against South Africa, which will take place on December 3 at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Raipur.