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Mithun Manhas says fitness and performance, not age, should decide Kohli and Rohit's 2027 World Cup fate

BCCI president Mithun Manhas has stated that fitness and performance, rather than age, must serve as the deciding factors when evaluating Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for India's squad at the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Rohit Sharma will reach 40 years of age on April 30, 2027, prior to the start of the competition, while Virat Kohli will turn 39 on November 5, 2027, while the event is underway.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sportstar, Mithun Manhas addressed the selection criteria regarding the veteran players. 'As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment because it all depends on the selectors and the coaches.

But from how I look at it, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, and definitely not age. If somebody is fit to play, and you see him performing and winning games for the country, that is the only criterion we should focus on,' Manhas said.

Manhas argued that retaining experienced figures in the national team would relieve pressure on captain Shubman Gill by spreading leadership duties across the roster. He indicated that a proven track record in high-stakes situations remains a vital element in team planning ahead of the 2027 event.

'Having Virat, Hardik and Rohit in the side will definitely help him. Then there are the likes of Bumrah, who could lead, who can be the bowling captains, and then somebody who will be the fielding captain.

So, it is all about the distribution of workload They have been under pressure, and they have delivered so many times in crunch situations. So, it is a good combination,' Manhas said.

Acknowledging that a demanding international schedule and continuous injury risks create ongoing challenges, Manhas emphasized the necessity of maintaining a deep bench of players for Indian cricket. He noted that individual assessment is required to manage the physical demands placed on players.

'With so many tournaments taking place and injuries being a concern, having bench strength helps us manage all these challenges. It is good for Indian cricket to have so much competition.

Competition pushes players to perform better, so it is a healthy sign for the game. Every individual is different.

We have to assess what an individual feels, and then we chalk out a plan,' Manhas said.

This report also draws on coverage from CricketAddictor, Hindustan Times, ESPN Cricinfo.

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