Rohit, Kohli will play until World Cup 2027, and have no intention of retiring in ‘the next 5-6 years’, former Indian player predicts.

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Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had retired from Twenty20 Internationals after helping India win the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean last month, but have indicated they’ll continue to represent the country in Tests and ODIs.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja bowed out of T20Is in stye by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. Reuters

After bringing their T20I journey to a dream conclusion by helping India win the T20 World Cup last month, thereby winning their first major global event in 11 years, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have signalled their intention to continue representing India in other formats.

This despite the fact that the two batting stalwarts are at that age when senior cricketers, even the most celebrated of players, tend to walk off into the sunset. Rohit is 37 years of age while Kohli will be turning 36 in November this year, and there is even a possibility the two might sign off from international cricket together in the 2027 ICC World Cup in South Africa.

Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, however, doesn’t think the two batting superstars are going to stick around for that long, and expects them to retire in “another two-three years”.

“In another two-three years. Playing the World Cup looks tough. He (Rohit) has 3-4 years of cricket left, but for India not much. He will retire and continue playing the IPL. Same with Virat Kohli. As it should be.

“How else will new players get in? One is 37, the other will turn 36 soon. They’ll be 38-39 in the next two years. At max, 40. That’s usually how long cricketers play.,” Mishra said on a YouTube show Unplugged.

Both Rohit and Kohli are currently on a break, with their participation in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka currently doubtful. Former India captain Kohli is spending time with his family in London. Rohit too was in the British capital to attend the Wimbledon men’s singles semi-finals, before jetting off to the United States where he attended an event in Dallas, Texas.

Rohit was quizzed on his future in the Dallas event, and the ‘Hitman’ replied by saying he did not think that far ahead and that he would continue playing “for a while”.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah, meanwhile, has made it clear that Rohit will be leading the Indian team in next year’s World Test Championship final as well as the Champions Trophy, the 50-over event that returns to action after eight years and will be hosted at the home turf of defending champions Pakistan.