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, not age, should determine whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are considered for India's squad at the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The age question has become prominent because of where both players will stand when the tournament takes place. The 2027 ODI World Cup is scheduled to run from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Rohit will turn 40 on April 30, 2027, before the event begins, while Kohli will turn 39 on November 5, 2027, during the tournament itself. He reinforced that point with a direct standard for any player seeking consideration.

"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, in an exclusive interview with Sportstar.

What did Manhas say about Kohli and Rohit's value under Shubman Gill?

Manhas argued that the presence of senior players would ease the burden on captain Shubman Gill by spreading leadership responsibilities across the group. He also pointed to the value of experience when the team faces pressure in decisive moments

"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.

Manhas indicated that this track record in high-stakes situations remains a relevant factor in the team's planning ahead of 2027.

How is the BCCI managing workload and squad depth ahead of 2027?

Manhas acknowledged that a demanding international calendar, combined with the constant risk of injuries, makes a deep player pool essential for India. He said the board is actively working on plans to balance cricket commitments with adequate recovery time for each player. He added that workload management will be handled on a case-by-case basis rather than through a single uniform policy.

"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," he said.

The BCCI's approach, as outlined by Manhas, is to tailor recovery and availability schedules to each player's specific needs.