Former England spinner Monty Panesar has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, saying the star batter’s hunger, intensity and commitment to fitness suggest that he still has plenty of cricket left in him.

Kohli recently completed 15,000 runs in ODI cricket and has already confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his last appearance in the format. The announcement has led to growing speculation that the former India captain could retire from ODIs after the tournament.

However, Panesar believes Kohli’s approach to the game could see him continue beyond the 2027 World Cup.

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“Virat Kohli is still very hungry. He plays with tremendous intensity, pays great attention to his fitness and motivates everyone around him. I also get motivated to go to the gym when I see Virat training,” Panesar told ANI.

The former England spinner said Kohli could be using the thought of having only a limited number of games left as extra motivation.

“He was saying that this could be his last World Cup, but perhaps that is part of his mindset. When you think you have only 10-15 games left, you approach every game with full intensity, treating each one like an event,” Panesar said.

“Virat comes in with that mindset, giving his best on every ball and in every moment. With this kind of intensity, I don’t think he will retire after the World Cup. I believe he still has a lot of cricket left in him,” he added.

Panesar Backs Rohit Sharma For 2027 World Cup

Panesar also spoke about Rohit Sharma and backed the former India captain to earn a place in the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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Calling Rohit a “great player”, Panesar said the veteran opener can still make a big impact when he gets going.

“Rohit Sharma is also a great player. When he gets going, he can be absolutely destructive with the bat. He is an attacking batter, hits the ball a long way and plays with a clear mindset,” Panesar said.

“He can make a real difference for India, and I believe the team needs a player of Rohit’s quality. He deserves to be given the opportunity to earn his place in the World Cup squad,” he added.

Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli’s ODI Future

Rohit and Kohli have already retired from Test and T20I cricket, leaving ODIs as the only format in which the two batting greats continue to represent India.

The duo recently featured in India’s three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Kohli and Rohit both scored centuries in the series in the first and second matches, respectively.

They are now set to return to action in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand which will start from November 4.

Both players have confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be their final World Cup appearance. 


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