Virat Kohli’s childhood coach’s bold statement on his 2027 World Cup place

Sharma also praised his influence on fitness standards across Indian cricket. The comments come amid ongoing discussion about the futures of senior players Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2027 tournament, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Virat Kohli’s childhood coach’s bold statement on his 2027 World Cup place

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Sharma said:

"I think you should see for yourself what he's doing, what he has done in the last few matches, and how he is doing it on the field.”

Sharma added: 

“So I think it should not be a discussion even.”

The former coach of Kohli pointed to the cricketer’s recent performances, fitness and work ethic as reasons the conversation should end. Since the 2025 Champions Trophy, Kohli has been India’s leading ODI run-scorer with 760 runs in 12 matches at an average of 76, including three centuries and five half-centuries. 

Sharma, who has worked with Kohli since his teenage years, described him as a “tremendous player” and match-winner who continues to set high standards. He added:

“Undoubtedly, he's a match-winner. On his given day, he's a match-winner.”

It seems like Kohli’s performances have already made the case for Sharma, and he believes that age is just a number for Kohli. While questions have been raised about the longevity of both, Sharma insisted Kohli’s form and contribution make his selection straightforward. 

Kohli, the Indian batter now focused solely on the 50-over format after stepping away from Tests and T20Is, has maintained strong consistency in ODIs this year. Sharma is confident in the player whom he has watched long before he even became the superstar of the sport. 

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