'They deserve it' - Jacques Kallis on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's feature in ODI World Cup 2027

Former South Africa great Jacques Kallis has voiced strong support for Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, stating that both players deserve the chance to represent India at the 2027 ODI World Cup, should they choose to continue till then.

Kallis addressed the ongoing debate around the future of India’s senior batters, especially after both players stepped away from T20 and Tests. Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 Internationals following India’s World Cup triumph in 2024, while they later brought down the curtain on their Test careers in 2025. As a result, both of them are now expected to feature in the ODI World Cup, with their workload significantly reduced.

With the 2027 World Cup scheduled to be in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, questions have been raised about whether age and reduced match exposure could impact their longevity. Rohit will be 40 by the time the tournament arrives, while Kohli will be 38. Despite that, Kallis believes the decision should remain entirely with the players, given their experience and understanding of their own bodies.

“He (Virat Kohli) obviously knows his body when you want to call it quits. Hopefully, he goes out to the bank. He certainly deserves it. Fantastic player (Rohit Sharma) and hopefully he also deserves to go out to the bank,” Kallis was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The South African legend’s backing comes at a time when both batters continue to produce consistent numbers in the 50-over format. In 2025, Kohli emerged as India’s highest run-getter in ODIs, scoring 651 runs in 13 matches with a staggering average of 65.10, including three centuries and four half-centuries. Rohit was not far behind, getting 650 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50, while striking at over 100, with two hundreds and four fifties to his name.

The South African all-rounder also shared his thoughts on South Africa’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, following their narrow loss to India in the 2024 final. He expressed hope that recent experiences would help the team cross the final hurdle this time.

“Well, hopefully this tournament now will give the guys a head start on that tournament. And they need a little bit of luck to win it. Hopefully, things fall in place for us,” he said.

Additionally, Kallis praised the SA20 league for its role in strengthening South African cricket, highlighting how young players have benefitted from competing alongside international stars and working under experienced coaches.

“I think it’s (SA20) been good for South African cricket… so hopefully it will carry on growing,” he added.