Will Rohit and Kohli Play in 2027 World Cup? Travis Head and Akshar Patel Reacts

Udaipur, Oct 18, 2025: The India-Australia ODI series will begin on Sunday. Before the series, both teams arrived in Perth for practice. During this time, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel and Australian opener Travis Head spoke to the media. They discussed several important topics. Head talked about the possible return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI series and the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Travis Head said, “Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are great white-ball players. Virat Kohli is probably the greatest white-ball player of all time, and Rohit Sharma is not far behind. What they have done while opening the innings is highly appreciated. I think both will play in the 2027 World Cup. It will be great for the game.”

Axar Patel praises Rohit and Kohli’s preparation

Axar Patel made an important statement about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He said, “Both of them are fully prepared. Rohit has been practicing at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. When we practiced together, both looked in good touch. They are ready to play matches. Having experienced players like them will help Shubman Gill’s captaincy. He will learn a lot from them.”

Rohit and Kohli’s retirement and return plans

It is worth noting that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from international T20 cricket in 2024. Later, they retired from Test cricket in May 2025. Now, they only play ODIs for India. Their last international match was in March during the Champions Trophy 2025, where India, under Rohit’s captaincy, defeated New Zealand to become champions.

After the Champions Trophy, Rohit and Kohli only played in the IPL and have stayed away from cricket since then. Both are expected to return to the field on September 19. Due to their age and long break, many former players and fans believe they might retire before the 2027 ODI World Cup, while some think they could play their final match during the Australia tour.

BCCI shares Rohit-Virat video

The BCCI also shared a video of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli practicing. In the video, both can be seen training hard in the nets. They looked fresh and focused. Kohli was seen running and fielding on the ground, while Rohit Sharma was batting and doing fitness exercises in the nets.