Though age might not favor them, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are proving they’re far from finished in their favored international format.
Amidst ongoing speculation about their futures, both Kohli, 37, and Rohit, 38, show no signs of slowing down in the later stages of their celebrated careers.
Freed from the demands of test cricket and the intensity of T20s, India’s seasoned players have honed their skills in ODIs, yielding impressive results.
Kohli’s recent ODI performances — 74 not out, 135, 102, and 65 not out — mark a strong comeback, earning him a player-of-the-series award against South Africa. Rohit, appearing confident and leaner, has achieved four 50-plus scores in his last five matches.
Kohli expressed his satisfaction with his performance, saying, “Playing the way I did in this series has been deeply fulfilling,” after leading India to a 2-1 series win against South Africa on Saturday.
“I haven’t played at this level for a few years, and now I feel mentally free, with my game coming together smoothly.”
“Batting like that helps the team significantly, allowing me to bat long and adapt to situations… I have the skills to manage those situations to the team’s advantage.”
Their experience has allowed younger players in the squad to learn from the best, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as a notable beneficiary.
On Saturday, Jaiswal supported Rohit in their 155-run opening partnership, then watched Kohli’s impeccable performance as India chased a 271-run target with over 10 overs remaining.
Jaiswal, who scored his first ODI century in the match, said his conversations with Rohit helped him balance aggression with the caution required by the match situation.
“We’ve discussed how to play, set targets, and the tempo to maintain,” the 23-year-old explained.
Later, Jaiswal shared that Kohli provided him with specific goals, which assisted him in achieving his objectives. “I enjoyed it immensely,” he added.
South Africa’s head coach Conrad Shukri expressed hope that his players would learn from the Indian veterans.
“Watching the world’s best, Virat and Rohit, our young batters can learn how they approach the game, and I hope they grow from this experience,” he stated.
Whether they will continue until the 2027 World Cup is uncertain, but for their fans, Kohli and Rohit remain the ever-giving stars.
