Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s places in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup should depend on their fitness and performances, not their age, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas said.
In an exclusive chat with Sportstar, Manhas said the decision on the two senior batters rested with the selectors and coaches, but stressed that players should not be judged by age alone.
“As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment because it all depends on the selectors and the coaches. But from how I look at it, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, and definitely not age,” he said.
“If somebody is fit to play, and you see him performing and winning games for the country, that is the only criterion we should focus on.”
BCCI president Mithun Manhas has stressed the need to balance cricket commitments with players’ recovery.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR
BCCI president Mithun Manhas has stressed the need to balance cricket commitments with players’ recovery.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR
While the selection debate continues, Manhas believes experience will remain vital as Shubman Gill prepares to lead India into the next ODI World Cup. He said the presence of Kohli, Rohit and Hardik Pandya could help Gill manage the demands of captaincy, alongside Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership within the bowling group.
“Having Virat, Hardik and Rohit in the side will definitely help him. Then there are the likes of Bumrah, who could lead, who can be the bowling captains, and then somebody who will be the fielding captain. So, it is all about the distribution of workload,” Manhas said.
He added that senior players could offer crucial advice when the team comes under pressure, drawing on their experience of delivering in difficult situations.
“They have been under pressure, and they have delivered so many times in crunch situations. So, it is a good combination,” he said.
Manhas also backed India’s growing player pool as a means of managing an increasingly demanding international calendar. With overlapping assignments and injuries posing challenges, he said depth would help the team maintain competition across formats.
“With so many tournaments taking place and injuries being a concern, having bench strength helps us manage all these challenges. It is good for Indian cricket to have so much competition. Competition pushes players to perform better, so it is a healthy sign for the game,” he said.
On the schedule, Manhas said the BCCI was working on plans to balance cricket commitments with players’ recovery, adding that workload management needed to account for individual demands.
“Every individual is different. We have to assess what an individual feels, and then we chalk out a plan,” he said.
Published on Oct 13, 2026
