• Source:JND
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Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has thrown a explosive claim, pointing out that India's batting mogul Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup is far from certain, considering the rapidly evolving landscape of Indian cricket.

Kohli and Rohit have been selected in the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, which begins on October 19. The return of seasoned campaigners after a seven-month hiatus has sparked fierce scrutiny about their prospects in the international setup.

AB de Villiers believes that the selectors' judgment to select Shubman Gill as ODI captain might be part of a long-term plan to transition from the veteran duo.

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"It’s not a guarantee that both of them will be there for the next World Cup. That’s maybe part of the thinking when they made Shubman Gill the ODI captain. He has a good chance of being there, young gun, in incredible form and a fantastic leader. I think this was the right move, to still have Rohit and Virat," De Villiers said on his YouTube Channel.

"Shubman Gill will learn from two of the most experienced Indian players of all time, high-quality, legendary players. It will be fantastic for Shubman to have them around. It will be for the tour, which is around the corner, actually. So, we will be buckling up for some high entertainment and a great series," he added.

AB de Villiers also mentioned that Kohli and Rohit will face a stern test to maintain their form ahead of the World Cup.

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"They find themselves on the ODI side. I think that is the reason they are hanging on to play another World Cup for Team India. It’s great to see. Whether it’s going to happen, I don’t know. Honestly? Form-dependent or are they playing enough cricket? It will take a lot from them to be there in 2027. Still a long way away," he added.

"It’s not that far, but it’s not so close. There’s a lot of cricket to be played and form to be kept. They’ve got to score runs and that should be the message from the selectors. As big as legends they are, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will walk into my team and I will play them without looking at where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing," the South Africa great added.