“Don’t do what you did with others to them”

Former pacer Munaf Patel urged the Indian team management not to drop veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Both batters have been under scrutiny, with constant pressure to prove their worth in every series they play.

Munaf Patel expressed that these two would be the main pillars for India at the World Cup. He urged the Indian team not to treat them the way certain other former players were treated, and to let them walk away on their own terms after playing and winning the tournament.

“In the format that they are still playing, you cannot drop them. Remember this. Those who are the main guys for you, and such big legends, because they are performing even today and proving, don’t do what you did with others to them. You have let many go and sent them home. Let them go by their own happiness and with a trophy. After winning the trophy, they will leave themselves. They also know they will not play the next World Cup, no matter how fit they stay,” Munaf Patel said during a conversation with sports journalist Vimal Kumar.

Kohli and Rohit will be in action during the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. The series opener will be played on Tuesday, July 14, in Birmingham.

“You cannot win the World Cup without them” – Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel said that India would need Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma if they want to win the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. While some believe that the two batters are finished, the former pacer backed them, saying there was still no one who could replace them today.

“You cannot win the World Cup without them. If you want to win the 2027 World Cup, it cannot happen without them. Look at their records of the last ten years. 55 hundreds in the same format. Rohit has 33-34 hundreds. Bowlers are scared to bowl, to be honest. Even today, people have a misconception that Rohit and Virat are finished. Talent can never be finished. These are talented guys. How will you win without them? The others are still getting ready. There is no one today who can take their place at the moment. There are just eight months for 2027. How much time is even left?”

Kohli has amassed 14797 runs from 299 ODI innings at an average of 58.71 with 54 hundreds and 77 fifties. Meanwhile, Rohit has scored 11720 runs from 277 innings in the format, averaging 48.83 with 33 hundreds and 62 half-centuries.