After a disastrous T20I series loss to England, the Indian team will prepare themselves to lock horns against the Three Lions in the three-game ODI series. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma coming back for the Men in Blue, the Shubman Gill-led side will look to take the revenge.
Shubman Gill reflects on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
While appearing at the pre-match press conference, India ODI skipper Shubman Gill has revealed that both Virat and Rohit remain to be integral part of the fifty-over side, as their experience and skills are extremely valuable. Notably, both Rohit and Virat have been proving themselves in the ODI format of the game in the recent past. Despite playing only one format in the international cricket, the two players have left no stone unturned to claim their place in the side without any biasness.
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While continuing, Gill revealed that he had a discussion regarding the 2027 ODI World Cup with Virat Kohli. The duo had a chat about what kind of team combination can find success in South Africa's testing conditions.
"In fact, just the day before yesterday, I was discussing our plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup with him. We talked about team combinations, which players could be part of the squad, which players could be crucial for us even if they aren't part of the squad right now, and where each player would fit best within the team setup," Gill told reporters on the eve of the first ODI," said Gill
While reflecting further, Gill admitted that both Rohit and Kohli have been the backbone of the Indian side for the last 10 years and they will continue to play a key role for the Men in Blue in the coming future.
"Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the backbone of the Indian batting lineup for the past decade, and both remain an integral part of the team. The experience and skill they bring to the team are obviously very valuable. We have seen what they have done over the past decade in different conditions," added Gill.
Rohit Sharma's sublime touch in ODIs
Currently, Rohit Sharma is going through a fine form in the fifty-over format of the game. The former India skipper appeared in the third and final ODI against Afghanistan which was played in Chennai. Rohit managed to score a sublime knock of 79 runs off just 69 balls at a strike rate of 114.49. Considering this, Rohit's fine form could be a big boost for the Men in Blue.
Virat Kohli's dominance in ODIs
When it comes to Virat, the star right-handed batter has been in great form as his performance in the recent ODI series (excluding ODIs vs AFG) has been sensational. The former RCB skipper smashed back-to-back centuries (135 and 102) against South Africa and a fine 124 against New Zealand. Given this, Virat will surely play an instrumental role for India in the 2027 ODI WC.