Published: Dec 10, 2025, 06:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 10, 2025, 06:10 PM (IST)
At the ages of 38 and 37, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have recently taken the top two spots in the ICC ODI rankings. Every Indian cricket fan is wondering if the unmatched “RoKo” duo will be able to represent their nation until the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 in a few years.
Mohammad Nabi, a legendary and seasoned all-rounder from Afghanistan, withdrew from ODIs earlier this year at the age of 40 following the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. When the next ODI World Cup rolls around, Kohli will be 39 and Rohit will be 40.
In an exclusive interview with cricketcountry.com from Dubai during the ILT20 2025 competition. Nabi asked why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opted to retire from T20Is after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He feels there is no reason why they shouldn’t continue playing ODI cricket for the next few years.
“If Rohit (Sharma) and (Virat) Kohli are performing and the body allows them to play then why shouldn’t they play in 2027 ODI World Cup. Both are playing really well in the last few series and performing, I don’t know why they retired from T20!†Nabi said in an exclusive interview to cricketcountry.com from Dubai on Wednesday.
“India’s team combination has been really good when Rohit and Kohli are playing in ODI cricket. The team looks balanced and looks stronger. They should definitely play in the next World Cup together,†he added.
Nabi is getting ready to participate in his seventh Twenty20 World Cup, which will begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. When England won the third edition in the West Indies in 2010, the Afghanistan all-rounder also participated.
In the Asia Cup 2025 competition match against Sri Lanka, the ace all-rounder for the Dubai Capitals showed the world that he has not lost his touch or power. Famously, Nabi hit five consecutive sixes in one over against Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage.
“It (my form) depends on conditions, if you have good batting conditions you have to make best use of that. That’s why I am practising a lot as a power-hitter. My performance has been really good in the last few months when it comes to my batting and also I am trying to put more focus on my batting in whichever situation my team needs me,†the 40-year-old Afghanistan all-rounder said.
After a few years away, Nabi is rejoining the ILT20 league. This season, he is playing for the Dubai Capitals, the reigning champions.
“I played in the first season of the ILT20 and now returning to the league again and turning out for Dubai Capitals this year and it has been really enjoyable so far. Dubai is my home and I am always playing in Dubai. Afghanistan has a lot of international games, tournaments and national camps happening in UAE,†Nabi said.
In the run-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Nabi, who has played in 145 T20 matches for Afghanistan so far while scoring 2417 runs and taking 104 wickets, believes ILT20 may be a useful training tool for Afghan cricket players.
“Not only ILT20, in every single event I will try to perform to the best of my ability. Especially in bowling and batting and before World Cup this kind of tournament helps me more and boosts my confidence. I can work on areas where I have made mistakes and improve on them and fix issues in this kind of league.
“We have another T20I series against West Indies before we head to the World Cup, it is important for me and the team to make good combination for the World Cup,†he said.
Asked to compare ILT20 to other T20 franchise leagues like IPL, the man also known as ‘Mr President’, said, “In ILT20 there are lot of international players are playing, there are about 8 foreign players in every ILT20 team and only a couple of local UAE players and one Associate players, so it makes competition really tough. In IPL and PSL you had a lot of local players only about 3-4 foreign players.â€
Nabi thinks the Dubai Capitals’ superior all-rounders, including himself, James Neesham, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Dasun Shanaka, and David Willey, will be their greatest asset in the ILT20 2025 season. “Dubai Capitals have a lot of all-rounders, they have a lot of different all-rounders. Depending on the opposition, it is easy to get a good combination. It’s not tough to pick a playing 11 for different conditions,†Nabi felt.
When finally questioned about his objectives prior to declaring his retirement from international competition, Nabi stated, “Koi goal nahi hai, saare goals ho gaye…jab dil chaha chhod denge yaar (There are no goals, everything is fulfilled, when the heart wants I will retire). I haven’t planned or set my sight on any exact date till when I want to play, when I feel I have had enough I will announce my retirement.â€
