Aakash Chopra backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to keep scoring

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Former India batter Aakash Chopra has said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should focus on continuing to score runs when they return for India’s three-match home ODI series against West Indies, starting in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27.

Chopra said the experienced batters have nothing further to prove as India shape their plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Shubman Gill will captain India in the series, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.

“The only expectation from Rohit and Kohli is just this: keep scoring runs,” Chopra said on JioHotstar’s “Follow the Blues”, according to the Times of India report. Chopra added that both players remain capable of scoring runs and winning matches for India.

Rohit and Kohli enter the series with productive ODI returns

Virat Kohli has scored 384 runs in six ODI innings this year, while Rohit Sharma has made 379 runs in nine innings, according to the figures included in the source report.

Player Innings Runs Average Strike rate Hundreds Fifties
Virat Kohli 6 384 64.00 Over 106 1 3
Rohit Sharma 9 379 42.11 Over 99 1 1

Rohit’s reported best score during that period was 138 against England at Lord’s. Chopra argued that Rohit and Kohli could provide important experience as India work towards the next ODI World Cup in South Africa.

India’s squad includes competition for reserve batting places

India’s 15-member squad includes Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, creating competition for batting positions during the West Indies series.

Chopra identified Jaiswal and Gaikwad as potential candidates for a reserve batting role in India’s longer-term ODI plans. Chopra said opportunities during the series could help distinguish between the two batters.

Shreyas Iyer is unavailable for the West Indies ODIs because he is leading the Asian Games campaign. KL Rahul has consequently been appointed vice-captain, while Dhruv Jurel has been selected as the second wicketkeeper.

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Chopra also welcomed Auqib Nabi’s maiden ODI call-up and said he would be interested to see the player perform if selected in the playing XI.

Rishabh Pant’s omission points to a red-ball focus

Rishabh Pant has not been included in India’s ODI squad, although Pant remains part of India’s Test plans and has been appointed captain of the Rest of India side.

Chopra described Pant’s position as unusual because the wicketkeeper-batter remains important in red-ball cricket but has been left out of the ODI group. Chopra interpreted the selection as an indication that the current committee is prioritising Pant’s role in the longer format.

All-rounder places remain under examination

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar feature in Chopra’s assessment of India’s all-rounder options ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Chopra highlighted India’s decision to move Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Asian Games group into the West Indies ODI squad. Chopra said the selection provides India with a pace-bowling all-rounder option when Hardik Pandya is unavailable.

Ravindra Jadeja will need to contribute with wickets and runs, according to Chopra, as India assess Jadeja alongside Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Chopra said competition for World Cup places means each all-rounder must make use of available opportunities.

The ODI series runs from September 27 to October 3

India and West Indies will play three ODIs across Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Chandigarh, with the series concluding on October 3.

Match Date Venue
First ODI September 27 Thiruvananthapuram
Second ODI September 30 Guwahati
Third ODI October 3 Chandigarh