India's legendary leg-spinner and former head coach Anil Kumble believes it will not be easy for senior duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to maintain fitness standards required to play ODIs as they have retired from Tests and T20Is. While Rohit wants to take it game by game, Kohli has expressed his desire to play and win the next ODI World Cup in 2027. Kumble feels that it is important to celebrate champion players as they aim to make up for the heartbreaking ODI World Cup 2023 final defeat.
"It's not easy to just do what they need to in terms of preparing for an ODI, which is six months down the line. It's going to be a challenge, no matter who you are and how well you have had your career over the years," Kumble said at an event organised by JioHotstar.
"But they are champion players, so they know how to sort of manoeuvre that, and it's important to celebrate champion players as long as they play. You go into thread bare of each performance as to how they should have played or how they could have played.
"What is important is to celebrate whatever is out there with the two players. Ideally, they would like to play until the 2027 World Cup, because that's something that did not happen. We saw that 2023 (World Cup) final with Australia holding the trophy," he added.
India's next major ODI challenge
India's next limited-overs series is against Bangladesh. The ODI series will begin on August 17, a long break after the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. However, their main challenge will come in October when India tour Australia for a three-ODI series followed by a five-T20I series. Kumble feels that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan may get to showcase their talent at the top of the order on the basis of their performances on England tour.
"The legends who are no longer playing in the other format will certainly want to make a mark, Virat and Rohit, and I'm sure a lot of people would want to watch that in Australia," he said.
"I feel someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, I think, will make it to that team although he's not a part of it. (But) I think he will, based on the performances is going to have in England and he'll be someone to watch out for."
Kohli vs Rohit possible in IPL 2025 playoffs
Kohli and Rohit may cross paths in the IPL 2025 playoffs. If Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), they will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 on May 29. Otherwise, they will go up against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the eliminator clash.