Can Ro-Ko continue till 2027 WC? Shastri, Ponting back duo to rediscover rhythm

The much-anticipated international return of India's illustrated duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might have been marred by their modest returns in the series-opening ODI against Australia in Perth, but former India head coach Ravi Shastri and Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting believes that while age and longevity will be talking points in the buildup to the 2027 ODI World Cup, the defining factor for the veteran pair will remain their hunger and enjoyment for the game, qualities that have long made them two ofthe mostinfluential cricketers of their generation.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements from Tests and T20 Internationals over the last 18 months and now feature exclusively in the 50-over format. Irrespective of their contributions with the bat, their comeback sparked widespread debate over whether they can sustain their careers through to the next World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Another important question that lingers is whether the long break from international cricket, considering the pair now exclusively features in 50-over matches, has impacted theirrhythmand form, especially given the challenge of returning totop-flight cricket in demanding Australian conditions.

Speaking on The ICC Review, both Shastri and Ponting agreed that only time will reveal ifthe two stalwarts will still be around when the next World Cup comes along.

“When you come back from along layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri noted.