NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas threw his weight behind India’s batting icons Virat Kohli: and: Rohit Sharmainsisting that the two veterans have a lot left in the tank and should be part of India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.The legendary Pakistan batter, popularly known as ‘Asian Bradman’, dismissed concerns about the duo’s age and said their skill, experience and continued ability to score runs made them automatic contenders for the marquee tournament, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.“Both are very good in terms of skills and, given their experience, I see no reason why they should not play in the World Cup. Age is not a factor as long as they are fit and keep scoring runs,” news agency PTI quoted Zaheer as saying on a Pakistani television channel.
“Experience makes the difference”
Zaheer, who is regarded as one of Pakistan’s best batsmen after scoring more than 100 first-class centuries during his illustrious career, believes that both Kohli and Rohit have qualities that are more powerful than ever.According to the former Pakistan skipper, scoring runs has become second nature for players of their caliber after spending years at the highest level, while their experience remains invaluable in major ICC tournaments.He also assessed the fitness of the two Indian greats, saying that Kohli continues to maintain extraordinary physical standards.“Kohli is still very good, while Rohit needs to pay a little more attention to his fitness,” Zaheer said.The Pakistan great added that India will benefit a lot from having two veterans in the dressing room during the 2027 World Cup campaign.His comments come at a time when speculation over the future of India’s senior stars continues despite both producing match-winning performances in the ODI format.
Rohit’s century impressed Zaheer
Zaheer reserved special praise for Rohit after watching the former Indian captain’s recent century against England, saying the opener’s batting remains a joy to watch.“I watched Rohit score a hundred against England, and it was a joy to watch him bowl.Rohit’s knock against England once again highlighted his credentials in the 50-over format, while Kohli also continued to deliver consistently, strengthening the argument that the experienced pair could yet play a key role in the next World Cup.Reflecting on the changing nature of modern cricket, Zaheer acknowledged that T20 cricket has introduced many new strokes to the game. However, he insists that the fundamentals remain as important, saying that every batter who wants to succeed in those formats must master traditional shots such as the cover drive and the cut shot.The former Pakistan captain also spoke about the future of cricketing in his country, expressing confidence that better days lie ahead.“Hopefully, the return of Babar Azam as the Test captain will change things. He is a world-class player and, once he starts scoring regularly again, it will have a positive effect on the rest of the team as well. Good times are coming back for Pakistan cricket,” Zaheer said.