'Rohit Sharma wouldn't be my choice': Sanjay Manjrekar says India need openers in their 'prime' for 2027 ODI World Cup
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'Rohit Sharma wouldn't be my choice': Sanjay Manjrekar says India need openers in their 'prime' for 2027 ODI World Cup originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Sanjay Manjrekar believes Rohit Sharma should not be India's first-choice opener for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- He said India should back openers who will be in their "prime" by the time the tournament begins.
- However, Manjrekar felt that Virat Kohli had the edge over everyone else in terms of fitness.
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Why Sanjay Manjrekar believes India must move beyond Rohit Sharma for the 2027 ODI World Cup
Commentator and former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has brought up some new questions about India's strategy for the ODI World Cup to be held in 2027, stating that Rohit Sharma is not his pick as an opener in the World Cup.
Speaking on Sony Sports, the former India batter claimed that since the next ODI World Cup was more than a year away, India's selectors should build their team from players in their peak.
He added that ODI openers should be those players who could prove useful for India well beyond a single tournament.
"Opening in 50 overs is fun. It is a rehabilitation programme. That, I think, you should give to a player who is in his prime and has got another 5-10 years. If you are thinking only about Rohit Sharma, it's not right. You have to think about Indian cricket, the future of Indian cricket. In that space, I don't think Rohit Sharma would be my choice in the squad," Manjrekar said.
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Manjrekar explains why Kohli remains a strong 2027 World Cup contender
Manjrekar is of the opinion that although discussions pertaining to selections usually center around seasoned players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the latter would make a better case for the 2027 ODI World Cup owing to his high levels of fitness.
The retired cricketer emphasised the need for India to look at things from the perspective of the future and not go by mere reputation in the matter of selection. He mentioned that with his fitness and consistency, Virat Kohli can very well be a candidate for the next World Cup.
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"I mean this will become controversial. But I think I should not care; I have not cared for all these years. We are in mid-2026, and that World Cup is in late 2027. I think India have options.
"Virat Kohli, with his sheer fitness, is making a strong case. But what happens here is when we select, we are thinking Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma. We should think about what is best for Indian cricket," Manjrekar said.
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The Cricket News opinion: India’s 2027 Ro-Ko dilemma
India is at an extremely sensitive phase of transition wherein there is mounting tension between short-term stability and long-term vision.
In light of the selection of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the upcoming England ODI series scheduled in July 2026 and with the intention of using them for the time being, India will definitely find itself depending on the experience of these players in key series prior to the 2027 World Cup.
On the other hand, with the number of ODIs in their schedule decreasing, each innings played by the experienced duo gains additional significance in the selection process, and the next 12-18 months will determine the level of India's ambition for their future ODI batting lineup.
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