Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to return for India’s ODI tour of Australia in October. Both have retired from Tests and T20Is but are aiming to play in the 2027 World Cup. At 36 and 37 years old, they have been focusing on fitness and performance. However, their future in the 50-over format remains uncertain.

Former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan believes that experience alone won’t be enough. He stressed that they need to play regularly in domestic or other competitive matches to stay mentally and physically prepared.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy in December-January could offer them that opportunity, but it’s unclear if they will participate. Cullinan warned that playing too few games before the World Cup would not help and that they need to stay match-fit by playing more cricket in the coming two years to remain in contention.

“Well, I think from an ability and experience point of view, they could play, I don’t think there’s any doubt in that, but they’d have to be on the ground of international cricket. If I were the coach or convener of selectors, because no matter how good you are, thinking that you can just play a few games or select a few games, not put in the hours and then step in and think you’re going to perform, no, that doesn’t work that way,” he said in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times.

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“So it’s a bit of a catch-22, I’m not saying they need to be on the circuit all the time, but they need to have played a serious amount of cricket, especially going into the World Cup, so they’re in the right physical, mental frame of mind, the grind of international cricket, being fit, then I would say yes, but anything less than that I’d say no, India move on, because that certainly doesn’t work, and that’s in my view. They need to be playing quality cricket for the next two years! Far more cricket than less cricket,” Cullinan added.

Daryll Cullinan also urged the BCCI and head coach Gautam Gambhir to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain. He believes Gill should lead the team, regardless of whether Rohit Sharma plays.

“Yes, Gill for captaincy, irrespective of whether Rohit is playing,” the former cricketer concluded.