Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan believes the reduced frequency of ODI cricket will not trouble Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup, pointing to their experience and professionalism as key factors.Having himself spent the latter part of his career as a one-format player, Dhawan admitted that limited match exposure can affect rhythm. Speaking to PTI, he reflected on the challenge of staying in flow when opportunities are spaced out.
“Yes, when you play one format at the International level, your flow does get disrupted,” Dhawan said.He explained that players often shift focus towards maintaining peak fitness during such phases, especially when matches are not frequent. However, he made it clear that seasoned players like Rohit and Kohli are well-equipped to handle that challenge.“So players focus on fitness because you are not playing too many games. You are talking about Rohit and Virat and they are matured individuals. It is a challenge but they know how to convert challenge into an opportunity.“If you look at their fitness, Virat was always fit but Rohit has undergone tremendous transformation,” he added.Dhawan also highlighted how the scheduling in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup should work in their favour, ensuring both players get enough time in the middle to find rhythm.“Now with 2027 WC round the corner, they will get to play a lot of ODI matches. If you look at the time when I became a one format player, there were back to back T20 World Cups (2021 and 22) and I was playing ODIs which were few and far between. So matches wont be a problem for Rohit and Virat and there’s enough time for the event.”Both Rohit and Kohli have been in strong ODI form in recent times. Rohit, who led India to the 2025 Champions Trophy title before being replaced by Shubman Gill as captain in October, enjoyed a productive year. He scored 650 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50, including two centuries and four fifties. However, his most recent series against New Zealand saw a dip, where he managed just 61 runs in three matches at an average of 20.33.Kohli, on the other hand, has been in outstanding touch in the format. In 2025, he amassed 651 runs in 13 matches at an average of 65.10, with three centuries and four fifties. He carried that form into 2026 as well, scoring 240 runs at an average of 80 in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January.With form and experience on their side, both veterans appear well-placed as India build towards the next global event.
