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Irfan Pathan urges Rohit, Kohli to stay match-ready with domesticcricket
The Statesman Kolkata
|January 04, 2026
India will begin their 2026 season with a home white-ball series against New Zealand, starting with a three-match ODI contest that marks the return of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in national colours.
As the team gradually turns its attention towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has called on the experienced duo to stay actively engaged in domestic cricket whenever they are not part of international assignments.
Speaking on JioStar, Pathan highlighted the importance of consistent match exposure for Rohit and Kohli, especially at a stage where both feature primarily in the 50-over format. Hestressed that sustained playing time will help India build momentum towards the next World Cup cycle.
This story is from the January 04, 2026 edition of The Statesman Kolkata.
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