Sydney — Former India coach Ravi Shastri says the upcoming ODI series in Australia will be a real test for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they try to earn a spot in the 2027 World Cup.
The two veterans, now retired from Test and T20I cricket, are in India’s squad for the three‑match ODI tour that starts on 19 October in Perth. They’ll join the team before the flight to Australia on 15 October.
Shastri told reporters at the Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney that the series matters “to see how they do. They’ll know by the end how they feel, and then it’s their call.” He added that fitness, hunger and form will all decide whether they can make it to the next one‑day world championship two years away.
The “RoKo” pair prepared separately – Kohli trained in London and Rohit worked on batting at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru – and now face a full schedule in Australia. India will play three ODIs in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, followed by a five‑match T20I series starting 29 October. New captain Shubman Gill will lead the side.
India’s last bilateral ODI tour of Australia in 2020‑21 ended with a 2‑1 loss, but the team won the T20I series by the same margin. The big games will test whether Rohit and Kohli can still rise to the occasion and secure a place in the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
