You could say the BCCI is holding its cards close as far as what part Rohit and Kohli will have in the 2027 tournament. Secretary Devajit Saikia has put it on the record that while there is some back-and-forth, it is strictly confidential. You have two of the game’s greats who want to be there, and the board is left to make the call between their pedigree, how they are playing, and a major event on the horizon.
Board wants continuity, but won’t let you in on the plan
Saikia says they are building the 2027 picture in an orderly way. He puts it down to regular talks with everyone from the cricket committee and the head coach to the selectors and the players in question.
He was at pains to point out there won’t be any kind of special conclave to settle senior fates. ‘We do not need any special session of interaction. This is an ongoing process,’ he said, making clear such matters ‘should remain within the boardroom.’ In a short video, he made it known he has no mandate to give out the inside story.
Rohit and Virat at a crossroads
Then you have the numbers: 39 for Rohit, 37 for Virat. As for their intent, they’ve been open about it; both have put out word they want to see out the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
There is some context to be had. Rohit just overtook Mohinder Amarnath to be the oldest Indian in an ODI. They have put down the gloves in Tests and T20Is, but are still around for the 50-over format. You can put last year’s Champions Trophy run in part to their know-how, and they have been in step with Gautam Gambhir’s vision.
The form and fitness factor
In the end, it comes down to that. In the series with Afghanistan, for instance, Rohit has put up 16 and 48 in the opening two. Kohli is out with a hamstring and is in the process of getting right again.
He is expected to be ready for his first ODI in half a year when we face England in the three-match series in July. If he makes it back as planned, you can mark it down as a key moment in his build-up.
A selection issue and new challengers
It is a familiar problem for the board: do you go with the ones you know or make room for a new era? The younger lads are coming up and putting the old guard on notice, even if you don’t question their standing in the game.
Make no mistake, by the time the next World Cup is upon us, Rohit will be 40 and Kohli nearly 39. Class is one thing, but so is being able to put in the work. That is what will determine how much leeway the BCCI gives them, with plenty of others vying for a spot.
Here is the way Saikia has put it, without giving away the shop:
– Decisions are made with all the relevant parties at the table
– We are in constant communication
– No special meetings are in the offing
– What is discussed stays private
What to look for in the coming weeks
Don’t expect the BCCI to change its tune in public, but the field will tell you something. Rohit’s numbers against Afghanistan are one thing. Then there is Kohli’s planned return in July, which will be a good test of his sharpness after time off.
For the time being, Saikia is for a measured approach. 'All stakeholders are taken on board,’ he says, and there is a system in place for it. It is not just a case of whether the pair want another go at a World Cup, but if the selectors see them as the heart of the side in 2027.
You will probably see the full picture come into focus in bits and pieces. While India is sorting out its ODI setup, the board will likely keep quiet and let the hard decisions be made where Saikia says they should be: in the boardroom.
