Morne Morkel confirms Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's participation in 2027 ODI World Cup, says 'They’ve won trophies, they know how to...'

“It’s still a long way away.. They’re quality players. As long as they’re happy to put the hard work in and the fitness, sure. I’ve always believed in experience and to have that experience, you don’t find that anywhere. They’ve won trophies, they know how to play big tournaments. So for sure, the World Cup, by all means," Morkel said at the pre-match press conference.

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Now that both Rohit and Virat have retired from Test and T20I formats, they are solely focusing on playing One-Day Internationals for India. This limited competitive schedule has created some doubt regarding their ability to maintain their run-scoring form without playing frequent competitive cricket. Consequently, there are reports suggesting that the pair might be requested to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before the New Zealand series to ensure they maintain the necessary match fitness and sharpness required for international demands.

Their recent performances in the format have been mixed. Rohit returned as the Player of the Series against Australia, scoring a half-century and a ton, though he did display some signs of rustiness during the first ODI. In contrast, Kohli struggled initially, registering back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs before finally finding his form with an unbeaten 74 in Sydney. Despite these fluctuations, ahead of the first ODI against South Africa, bowling coach Morne Morkel offered his complete backing to both players, stating emphatically that there is 'no substitute for experience' particularly when it comes to performing under pressure in crucial games.

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I’ve had sleepless nights bowling to them: Morkel

Morkel then drew upon his personal experience of competing against the two stalwarts during his own playing days. He recalled that Rohit and Virat frequently caused him sleepless nights, highlighting the sheer difficulty they presented to bowlers. Morkel concluded that based on this history, he is fully aware of how challenging the job becomes for opposing bowlers whenever the two seasoned players are on the field.