New Delhi, Oct 21: India legend Ravi Shastri and Australian great Ricky Ponting have shared their thoughts on whether they think the Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain on track to feature at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027 and said “only time will tell” whether the duo will still be around.

Rohit and Kohli, who have retired from Tests and T20Is within the last 18 months, and the 50-over cricket remains the only format they feature. The veteran duo played their first international fixture since the ICC Champions Trophy at the start of March when they contributed modest returns with the bat against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

When you come back from a long layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri said on The ICC Review.

“It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia, say, two days prior to a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away, especially when you have that extra bounce and against quality fast bowlers.

“But I think only time will tell. They’ll go to Adelaide, they have some time off to get into the nets, get their minds sorted and get back into action,”

“So I’m in no hurry to judge, but it’s when you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger is there and passion is left in you to play the game.

“So if you tick the boxes in two out of those three, especially the enjoyment part of it, then you can give them both time because they’ve got class, they’ve got experience and a little bit of time will sort things out. But I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately,” he said.

Ponting echoed the sentiments of Shastri and believes Kohli in particular will be targeting some short-term goals during the Australian tour that will help him decide whether to keep playing on.

“The one thing I don’t like hearing from anyone is that ‘I’ve achieved everything in the game’ because I think you still have to have some really short-term goals and not just be hanging on to try and get through to the 2027 World Cup,” Ponting said.

“Virat’s always been a highly motivated person. And I’d like to think that he’s probably sat down and even just given himself some goals and things that he can achieve in this series here in Australia and not be just waiting and killing time for that next World Cup to come around.

“What we know with both of those guys, at their absolute best, yes, of course they’re in India’s best team. But can they find their best between now and when that World Cup rocks around?

“And that’s only an answer that, like Ravi said, that we’ll find out in a short period of time. They will get some really good batting wickets coming up over the next few weeks here in Australia. There’s not many places that are better to go and bat in a one-day game than Adelaide Oval, which is coming up in a couple of days,” he said.

Ponting thinks it will only be a matter of time before Rohit and Kohli are among the runs again and that could come as soon as the next ODI against Australia in Adelaide.

“Finding your rhythm and tempo is the biggest thing. When you’ve had a break, just getting back used to the rhythm and the tempo of the 50-over game again, it takes a little bit of time for anybody,” Ponting said.

“I’d expect to see both those guys bounce back into it pretty quickly. As I said, Adelaide is a great place to bat and a great place to play cricket. But it won’t be easy for the fact that they are facing some of the best white-ball bowlers that have ever played the game. So, the challenge is definitely there.

“But I say it all the time, you don’t write off champion players ever. And these two guys have been two of the best, and while I’m on record saying I think Virat’s the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen, you don’t write them off.

“They’ll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, then they’ll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027,” he added.

Before a ball was bowled in the first ODI match at Perth on Sunday, Virat Kohli made a meaningful gesture by asking captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer to lead the team and stand first in the line. Kohli, who was returning to ODIs for the first time since lifting the Champions Trophy on March 9 in Dubai, appeared in high spirits throughout the pre-match build-up. He was seen chatting animatedly with teammates, sharing laughs, and setting a lighthearted tone in the dressing room.

The series opener had been highly anticipated, with fans eager to see India’s two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both having retired from T20Is and Tests, reunite in blue after months on the sidelines. Though the return did not yield the results many hoped for. Kohli was dismissed for a duck, caught brilliantly at point by Australia’s spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. Starc thus became only the second bowler, after James Anderson, to dismiss Kohli for a duck twice across all formats.

Earlier in the innings, Rohit Sharma’s comeback was also brief. Playing his 500th international match for India, Rohit was sent back for eight runs after edging a Josh Hazlewood delivery to second slip, where debutant Matthew Renshaw held on to a sharp catch. The match which was marred by rain interruptions, saw over being reduced. In 26 overs, India managed 136/9.

Australia’s target was reduced to 131 runs which they chased down with 7 wickets to spare. Skipper Mitchell Marsh top scored with unbeaten 46 runs. India will now shift focus to the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, aiming to bounce back and level the series after a tough start in Perth.

New Delhi, Oct 17: As India gears up for the high-voltage ODI series against Australia, the spotlight inevitably falls on two modern greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The duo, who have defined an era of Indian cricket, were seen training intensely in Perth, looking as sharp and motivated as ever. But amid the excitement, a cloud of uncertainty looms large – is this the last dance for India’s iconic pair?

Both Rohit and Virat have served Indian cricket with unmatched consistency and leadership. Yet, with a generational shift underway and the rise of new stars under young skipper Shubman Gill, speculation about the veterans’ future refuses to die down.

Some believe the management might be using this series as a litmus test – giving them one last shot before gradually transitioning to younger legs. Others argue that form and fitness should be the only yardsticks, and if the two perform in Australia, they deserve to stay in contention till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

What’s certain is that the series means more than just runs and wickets. For fans, it’s a chance to relive the magic of Rohit’s effortless stroke play and Kohli’s fierce determination – traits that have brought India countless memorable victories.

For the team, it’s about striking the perfect balance between experience and youth as Gill begins his journey as India’s new leader Down Under.

Whether this tour marks a new beginning or the closing chapter of a golden era, one thing is undeniable – the cricketing world will be glued to Rohit and Virat once again, hoping their bats do the talking, just as they have for over a decade.

The opening clash between India and Australia will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19.

India’s ODI squad for the Australia tour includes Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.