Rohit Sharma to Mitchell Starc: Top 5 cricket legends set for their final bow at ODI World Cup 2027

The countdown to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 has officially begun. Scheduled to take place across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia next year, the 14th edition of cricket’s ultimate 50-over showcase promises high-stakes action on Southern African soil.

5 icons set for their final ODI World Cup bow

While a new generation of prodigies will mark their World Cup debuts, the 2027 tournament will also serve as a poignant farewell for several of the sport’s most iconic figures. Aging bodies, shifting team dynamics, and structural transitions mean that a handful of generational talents will step onto the World Cup stage for the final time.

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Here is an in-depth analytical look at the top five cricket legends set to play their last ODI World Cup in 2027, complete with their defining statistics and World Cup legacies.

1. Virat Kohli (India)

Widely hailed as the greatest One-Day International batter in history, Virat Kohli will turn 39 during the 2027 World Cup. Having already stepped back from T20 Internationals following India's 2024 World Cup victory and then from Tests, Kohli has signaled that the 2027 tournament in Southern Africa will serve as his definitive ODI swan song.

Kohli’s ODI statistics remain unmatched in modern cricket. Across 317 matches, he has accumulated 15,109 runs at a staggering average of 58.78, boasting 55 centuries—the most by any batter in 50-over international history. His World Cup trajectory has been equally dominant: in the 2023 edition, Kohli produced a record-breaking campaign, scoring 765 runs in 11 innings at an average of 95.62, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most runs in a single World Cup tournament.

By late 2027, Kohli will be approaching 40. With India's selection strategy gradually shifting toward younger top-order options, the 2027 World Cup presents Kohli with one final opportunity to capture a second 50-over World Cup trophy—capping off a legacy built on relentless chase-mastery and unmatched run-scoring consistency.

2. Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma’s mastery of the ODI format has redefined opening batting in the modern era. The former Indian skipper will turn 40 ahead of the 2027 tournament, making the event in Southern Africa the natural finish line for his international career.

Rohit’s World Cup resume contains staggering records. In the 2019 edition in England, he struck a record five centuries in a single tournament, scoring 648 runs. He backed that up in 2023 by amassing 597 runs at an explosive strike rate of 125.94, pioneering an aggressive Powerplay template that propelled India to the final. Overall, Rohit holds the record for the most centuries in World Cup history (7) and remains the only player in ODI history to smash three double-hundreds, including the legendary 264 against Sri Lanka.

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With young openers like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cementing their places across formats, the 2027 World Cup will mark Rohit’s final campaign, a chance to cap off a career defined by effortless power-hitting and tactical leadership.

3. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc stands as one of the most destructive bowling forces in ODI World Cup history. The Australian left-arm quick, who turns 37 in 2027, has already retired from T20Is to preserve his physical longevity for Test cricket and 50-over marquee events.

Starc’s numbers in World Cup tournaments are remarkable. Across 28 World Cup innings, he has picked up 65 wickets at a extraordinary strike rate, placing him third on the all-time World Cup wicket-takers list behind Glenn McGrath (71) and Muttiah Muralitharan (68). Starc finished as the leading wicket-taker in both the 2015 (22 wickets) and 2019 (27 wickets) editions, played an instrumental role in Australia’s 2023 triumph, and earned World Cup winner's medals in both 2015 and 2023.

Needing just 7 wickets to surpass McGrath as the most successful bowler in World Cup history, the 2027 tournament offers Starc the ultimate statistical summit before hanging up his boots.

4. Jos Buttler (England)

Jos Buttler stands as one of the chief architects of England’s white-ball revolution. As a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter and World Cup-winning captain, Buttler redefined limited-overs batting through 360-degree strokeplay and finishing capability.

Across 204 ODIs, Buttler has scored 5,678 runs at a strike rate of 115.40, alongside 11 centuries and 30 half-centuries. He played a pivotal role in England's iconic 2019 World Cup triumph, scoring a vital half-century in the final at Lord's and executing the run-out in the Super Over to secure the trophy.

Turning 37 just ahead of the 2027 tournament, Buttler faces the dual challenge of managing the physical demands of wicketkeeping while leading England through a generational rebuild. The 2027 event in Southern Africa will represent Buttler’s final curtain call on the World Cup stage.

5. David Miller (South Africa)

For over a decade, David Miller has served as South Africa’s premier white-ball finisher. Popularly known as "Killer Miller," the left-handed middle-order batter will turn 38 in 2027. Having opted out of a central national contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to navigate the global T20 franchise circuit, Miller’s international focus remains firmly anchored on one final goal: a home World Cup.

Miller’s World Cup record reflects his big-match temperament. Across 21 World Cup innings, he has scored 816 runs at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 113.33, including a pressure-filled century against Australia in the 2023 semi-final at Kolkata.

Playing a World Cup on home soil across South Africa offers Miller the ideal setting for a farewell. Anchoring South Africa's middle order one last time, Miller will aim to guide the Proteas to an elusive World Cup title before stepping away from international duty.

The End of a Golden Era

The 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will represent a major milestone in international cricket history. As Kohli, Starc, Rohit, Miller, and Buttler prepare for their final campaign, the tournament will mark the closing chapter for a generation of players who transformed the 50-over game. Their presence in Southern Africa ensures that the 2027 World Cup will be a celebrated, high-stakes farewell for five of the sport's greatest stalwarts.