'Is age a factor?': Dhoni backs Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to chase 2027 World Cup dream

NEW DELHI: As India statesman shaping their roadmap towards the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, erstwhile skipper MS Dhoni has thrown his value down elder stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, insisting that show and fittingness — not property — should find their aboriginal successful ODI cricket. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking astatine a caller event, Dhoni made it wide that experienced players should not beryllium written disconnected simply due to the fact that they are successful their 30s, particularly with scrutiny expanding aft some stalwarts stepped distant from Test cricket past year.

“Why not? The happening is, wherefore idiosyncratic should not play the adjacent World Cup? For me, property is not a criteria. Performance, fitness, these are the criteria,” Dhoni said, adding that nary subordinate should beryllium judged purely connected numbers associated with age. “Is property a factor? No. Fitness factor? Yes. Even if you are 22 and not fit, you cannot play planetary cricket.” Dhoni emphasised that decisions connected longevity yet beryllium to the players themselves: “If they support performing and person the impulse to bash good for the country, past wherefore not? How bash you get experienced radical otherwise?”The World Cup-winning skipper besides stressed the worth of seasoned campaigners successful a young dressing room. “You cannot get a 20-year-old who is experienced unless it is idiosyncratic similar

Sachin Tendulkar

,” helium noted, pointing retired that acquisition is built implicit years of high-pressure matches.

“If radical are performing, they volition beryllium there, different not. If they are not fit, you tin chuck them out,” helium added.

Dhoni’s remarks travel arsenic some Rohit and Kohli proceed to physique their ODI credentials. Since the Australia tour, Kohli has amassed 616 runs successful 9 matches astatine an mean of 88, portion Rohit has contributed 409 runs @ 51 average. With the adjacent ODI duty scheduled successful England from July, the statement implicit India’s elder halfway heading into 2027 remains firmly alive.