Former South African captain AB de Villiers has praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to hand the ODI captaincy to Gill. He also hinted that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may not feature in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, scheduled to be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The announcement came when BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar unveiled the India squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series in Australia. Shubman Gill, who currently serves as India’s Test captain and T20I vice-captain, will now lead the ODI side.
“It’s not guaranteed that both Rohit and Virat will be around for the next World Cup. That may have influenced the decision to make Shubman Gill the ODI captain. He’s young, in incredible form, and a fantastic leader. It’s the right move because Shubman will have the chance to learn from two of India’s most experienced and legendary players. It’ll be fantastic for him to have their guidance during the tour, which is just around the corner. Fans can look forward to an exciting series,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last represented India in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. Both legends have retired from T20Is and Test cricket and currently play only in ODIs.
“It will take a lot from them,” AB de Villiers on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s chances for the 2027 World Cup
AB de Villiers discussed the possibility of the two veterans featuring in another ODI World Cup. He noted that while Rohit and Kohli remain keen, their selection will heavily depend on their fitness, form, and consistency over the coming years.
“They find themselves in the ODI squad, and I think that’s why they are hanging on—to play another World Cup for Team India. It’s wonderful to see. Whether it will happen, I honestly don’t know. It depends on their form and whether they are playing enough cricket. It will take a lot from them to be there in 2027. It’s still a long way off—not too far, but not too close either. There’s a lot of cricket to be played, and they need to maintain their performance. They’ve got to score runs, and that should be the message from the selectors. As legendary as they are, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would walk straight into my team—I wouldn’t even question their past achievements,” he said.
AB de Villiers also highlighted that competition in the Indian team is fierce, which will keep Rohit and Kohli on their toes. At the same time, their presence will provide invaluable guidance and support to younger players.
AB de Villiers “With the level of competition and quality in Team India these days, these two know they have to keep performing. Having them in the World Cup squad would be a tremendous asset for India. The priority, however, is always to score runs. I have no doubt they will deliver, and we’ll see them at the 2027 World Cup. Along the way, they’ll mentor many youngsters and help Shubman grow into a great captain,” he added.
