Pontings faith, Virat and Rohit could still be part of the 2027 World Cup

The new chapter in Indian cricket for veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hasn’t started as smoothly as expected. Following their recent struggles in the ongoing series against Australia, both have faced widespread criticism. However, Australian legend Ricky Ponting believes the two stalwarts are far from finished — and could still feature in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

India’s ODI team has entered a new era with Shubman Gill appointed as captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. Despite the leadership change, both Kohli and Rohit have been retained in the squad. Yet, their form and age have sparked debates over their long-term roles in the team.

In the first ODI against Australia, Rohit managed just 8 runs, while Kohli was dismissed for a duck, leading to increased scrutiny. But Ponting remains confident about their abilities.

Speaking on the ICC Review podcast, Ponting said, “You can never write off champions. These two are among the greatest of all time. I’ve said before — Virat is probably the best ODI batter I’ve ever seen. Players of this calibre should never be ruled out.”

Ponting further added, “They’ll find ways to contribute and win matches for India. If they do that, there’s no reason why they can’t be part of the 2027 World Cup squad. I truly believe both of them will bounce back very soon.”

India are now preparing for the second ODI in Adelaide, and Ponting believes that while the pitch will favor batters, it won’t be an easy task against Australia’s formidable bowling lineup featuring Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Ellis.

“Adelaide is a wonderful place to bat and a great ground for cricket overall. But it won’t be easy for them, given they’ll be facing some of the best white-ball bowlers in the world,” Ponting concluded.