“Rohit Will Faint in South Africa”: India Legend Lambasts Gautam Gambhir, Explains How the Coach Backtracked

Gautam Gambhir’s recent appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team has sparked debate over the future roles of veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both Rohit and Virat announced their retirements from T20I cricket following the T20 World Cup final last month. While BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed Rohit will captain the team for the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship in 2025, their availability for the 2027 ODI World Cup remains uncertain.

In a press conference, Gambhir emphasized that Rohit and Virat still have significant cricket left in them, reiterating their importance to the team. However, former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticized Gambhir for what he described as a U-turn. Srikkanth noted that before the T20 World Cup 2024, Gambhir had suggested that senior players who did not perform would not have a place in his team. Now, as head coach, Gambhir has praised Rohit and Virat, stating they have much cricket left to offer.

Srikkanth expressed doubts about Rohit Sharma’s ability to play in the 2027 World Cup, considering his age and fitness. He mentioned that while Virat Kohli, known for his high fitness standards, might still feature in the 2027 World Cup, it would be challenging for Rohit, who would be 40 by then, to maintain the necessary fitness levels.

Srikkanth commented, “He is a good player, but his age is 37 presently, and the next ODI World Cup is three more years ahead. He will be 40 years old then. I mean, unless you are a super-fit person like MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar, you can’t play World Cup at 40s. Yeah, Virat Kohli could play in the 2027 World Cup, in my opinion, for sure. But for Rohit, Mr. Gambhir, you went overboard; he will faint in South Africa.”

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted in Africa, with South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia jointly hosting the tournament. This raises further questions about the fitness and readiness of senior players like Rohit Sharma to compete in such a physically demanding event.