Published: Sep 07, 2025, 04:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2025, 04:59 PM (IST)
Former South Africa cricketer Daryll Cullinan has advised the legendary Indians player Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Daryll suggests to keep playing and practicing regularly if they want to stay in contention for the upcoming biggest contest 2027 World Cup.
Both players have retired from T20Is and Tests but are keen on featuring in the 2027 tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. However, there is uncertainty over whether the BCCI selectors plan to back them until then, with reports suggesting that the upcoming Australia tour could be their final international assignment.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Daryll Cullinan said that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could definitely make the 2027 World Cup squad because of their experience, but stressed that they must keep playing competitive cricket to remain mentally and physically fit. He also pointed out that India will play only nine matches in the build-up to the tournament, which makes regular game time even more important for them.
“Well, I think from an ability and experience point of view, they could play, I don’t think there’s any doubt in that, but they’d have to be on the ground of international cricket. If I were the coach or convener of selectors, because no matter how good you are, thinking that you can just play a few games or select a few games, not put in the hours and then step in and think you’re going to perform, no, that doesn’t work that way,” said Cullinan.
“So it’s a bit of a catch-22, I’m not saying they need to be on the circuit all the time, but they need to have played a serious amount of cricket, especially going into the World Cup, so they’re in the right physical, mental frame of mind, the grind of international cricket, being fit, then I would say yes, but anything less than that I’d say no, India move on, because that certainly doesn’t work, and that’s in my view,” he added.
Cullinan highlighted ”They need to be playing quality cricket for the next two years! Far more cricket than less cricket,“. ‘‘Yes, Gill for captaincy, irrespective of whether Rohit is playing,” he concluded.
