Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes Rohit Sharma will play a key role as an experienced opener in the 2027 World Cup, especially in challenging overseas conditions.
Former India opener Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup squad remains uncertain as selectors weigh form, fitness, and team balance. At 38, Rohit faces scrutiny, but former cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Rohit’s experience and consistency make him indispensable.
Kaif highlighted Rohit’s ability to perform under pressure and adapt to varied pitch conditions, including seaming tracks and bouncy wickets. He stressed that the right-handed opener’s record in handling spin and bounce across different countries strengthens India’s chances.
“He will definitely play, boss. Look, the captaincy may have been taken away from him, but I believe that as an opener, Rohit Sharma will do his job. You need an experienced batter in the side. You . Sometimes in those seaming conditions, the ball moves a lot and the pitches are bouncy. If you take only new players there, they’ll get exposed,” said Kaif on his YouTube Channel.
“That’s why I feel you need a player who can handle the bounce, who can pull and cut the rising deliveries just like Rohit Sharma does. On those kinds of pitches, I believe Rohit Sharma will perform even better. His batting style as an opener suits such conditions perfectly. He plays the rising ball, the one that bounces from the front, extremely well. Among all the players you can name, Rohit Sharma is the only one who handles that rising delivery so effectively,” Kaif added.
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Meanwhile, in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retain their places in the squad. The three-match series begins in Perth on October 19, followed by matches at Adelaide Oval on October 23 and Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. All games will start at 9:00 AM IST.
Last Updated on October 11, 2025
