Saba Karim says Rohit Sharma has work to do for 2027 World Cup, backs Virat Kohli

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Former India wicketkeeper and selector Saba Karim has said Virat Kohli looks secure in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans, while Rohit Sharma still has to prove his fitness and batting form to stay in contention.

Karim told PTI that selectors are likely to monitor Rohit Sharma closely over the next six months before deciding whether the former India captain remains part of the World Cup equation, according to a Times of India report.

Kohli and Rohit have both retired from Test and T20 cricket, leaving the 2027 ODI World Cup as a possible final major international target for the two former India captains.

Karim says selectors will watch Rohit Sharma over the next six months

Karim said Rohit Sharma has to improve both fitness and batting output before selectors can decide on his place in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup planning.

“I think Rohit has to do a lot of hard work. He has to work on his fitness levels and on his batting performance,” Karim said.

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Karim added that selectors would be “keenly watching Rohit’s performance for the next six months” before deciding whether Rohit can be part of the equation.

Karim said Rohit “will have to do a lot of heavy lifting” if Rohit wants to return to the selectors’ World Cup plans.

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Karim says Virat Kohli does not need to prove anything

Karim said Virat Kohli’s performances, fitness level and hunger for runs have already convinced selectors about Kohli’s place in the 2027 ODI World Cup set-up.

“For Virat Kohli, I am sure that they are completely convinced that he will be a part of the 2027 World Cup set-up,” Karim said.

Karim said Kohli has shown enough through performance and fitness, adding: “I don’t think Virat at this stage needs to prove anything to the selectors.”

IPL 2026 numbers put the contrast in focus

Kohli and Rohit had contrasting IPL 2026 campaigns, with Kohli producing a high-scoring season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rohit having a difficult season for Mumbai Indians.

Player Team IPL 2026 detail from source report
Virat Kohli Royal Challengers Bengaluru 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84, with one hundred and five half-centuries
Rohit Sharma Mumbai Indians 283 runs in nine innings as Mumbai Indians finished ninth

The source report described Kohli as playing a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title defence. The same report said Rohit endured a difficult season with Mumbai Indians.

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Kohli’s T20 evolution impressed Karim

Karim said Kohli has continued to work on his T20 scoring rate even in the later stage of his career.

“If you look at Virat Kohli’s strike rate over the past two-three seasons in T20 cricket, it has gone up because he has realised that to be meaningful in T20 cricket, he has to work very hard on his strike rate,” Karim said.

Karim said Kohli’s strike rate is now “between 170 and 180” after being “only 140-150” last year. Karim also called Kohli “one of the best multi-format players” seen so far.

The report did not include a formal selection announcement from India selectors. Karim’s comments remain an assessment of where Kohli and Rohit stand before the next phase of ODI planning.