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IND vs SA: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's 136-run partnership set up the Ranchi win for India on Sunday. (CREIMAS)
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Sunday reiterated that the 2027 ODI World Cup was still a long way out from the team’s radar and that the future of heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should not be discussed for now.
In the ODI series opener against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, Kohli and Rohit rolled back the years with scintillating knocks, setting up what would eventually be a 17-run win in a high-scoring match. While Rohit struck his third successive half-century in the format, the 37-year-old Kohli smashed his record-extending 52nd ODI century, his 25th at home. Kohli was uncharacteristically aggressive during his 135-run knock, smashing seven sixes to deflate the Proteas bowlers.
However, Kotak it was too early to definitively say anything concerning the futures of both Rohit and Kohli, who only play the 50-over format now.
“In my opinion, there should be no such talks. Talking about things that are two years away, I don’t think there is any point talking about such things. I don’t think we are even talking about the 2027 World Cup. They (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are contributing, which is great for the team,” the batting coach said during the post-match press conference
“I don’t know why do we need to look at all this. He (Kohli) is batting really well. I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future. Just the way he is batting, he is just brilliant. The way he is performing, the way his fitness is, there are no questions about anything,” Kotak added.
Kotak lauded Kohli’s contribution in the game after having had a mixed run in Australia. Kohli had fallen for successive ducks as Australia clinched the series Down Under before finding runs under his belt with a half-century, a match in which Rohit cracked a century.
“It was an outstanding knock, obviously, he batted really well. He is, in the one day format, and all the other formats, he is a thoroughly outstanding player. He took responsibility, and the way he batted was really good. They are both experienced players, it is always great to have them. And the way they bat, today also, they got that partnership, all of it makes a huge difference,” Kotak remarked.
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