"Age is just a number": Chetan Sharma backs Rohit, Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup
Former cricketer Chetan Sharma believes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play the 2027 ODI World Cup if they continue to perform.
Former Indian cricketer Chetan Sharma has firmly stepped in to silence the noise regarding the age of India's batting stalwarts. Speaking on the prospects of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Sharma asserted that their contributions to the national team should outweigh any debates about their age as they look toward the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Performance Over Age
While speaking to ANI during the launch of the Schools Total T20 League (STTL) at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, Sharma, who also serves as the League Commissioner for STTL, emphasized that form is the only metric that truly matters in professional sports.
"Age is just a number. If you're performing well, like both Virat and Rohit scored centuries [in ODI series against West Indies]. When you're performing well, there's nothing to overthink about it," Sharma stated.
He urged the duo to ignore the myriad of opinions and external chatter, reminding them that the primary goal is to represent the country and secure victories. According to Sharma, as long as they continue to win matches for India, their place in the squad remains justified.
The Legacy of the Duo
The statistics underscore why both players remain indispensable to India's ODI setup. Virat Kohli stands as the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the format with a staggering 15,109 runs and 55 centuries. Not far behind in impact is Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 12,120 runs and 35 hundreds.
Both veterans are set to feature in the upcoming high-stakes fixtures, including a five-match ODI series against New Zealand starting November 4, followed by a three-match home series against Sri Lanka beginning December 13.
Backing the Return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Beyond the batting legends, Chetan Sharma also expressed his support for veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has returned to the T20I squad for the New Zealand series. Kumar, 36, had not represented India in T20Is since November 22, 2022.
Having witnessed Kumar's recent form during his commentary stints and in the IPL, Sharma described him as the "ideal person" for the conditions in New Zealand. He praised the bowler's hard work and urged him to make the most of this long-awaited opportunity.
A Plea for Bowler-Friendly Pitches
Turning his attention to the state of the game, the former pacer raised concerns about the current trend of "batter-friendly" wickets. While acknowledging the public's love for fours and sixes, Sharma argued that the balance of the game is shifting too far in one direction.
He pointed out that when teams score 400 and the opposition chases it down comfortably with six overs to spare, the contest becomes one-sided and less exciting. He called for international wickets to be as supportive to bowlers as those provided in domestic cricket by the BCCI, ensuring a healthier competition between bat and ball.
Grassroots Cricket and the Red-Ball Debate
Discussing the rise of T20 cricket at the youth level, Sharma admitted that while the short format is the current trend, the foundation of a player's development still lies in red-ball cricket.
Identifying himself as an "old-school guy," he stressed that playing with the red ball is vital for young cricketers. He also issued a warning to aspiring players and their families, cautioning them against tournaments that charge registration fees without providing actual developmental value, advocating instead for accessible platforms for school-level cricket.