BCCI President Mithun Manhas has clarified that selection for the 2027 ODI World Cup will be determined by fitness and performance rather than age. The statement comes as India prepares for the tournament scheduled to run from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been central to discussions about India's squad composition for the event.
Rohit will turn 40 on April 30, 2027, before the tournament begins, while Kohli will turn 39 on November 5, 2027, during the competition itself. Recent performances by both batters have kept them in contention for the squad. Kohli has demonstrated strong form in recent ODI cricket, scoring an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies during a recent series. Rohit also produced a century and another substantial score in the same matches, reinforcing both players' current readiness for international competition.
Manhas addressed the selection criteria during an interview, emphasising that the BCCI's approach prioritises player condition and match performance above all other factors. The BCCI President defers to selectors and coaches on final squad decisions but offered his perspective on what should guide those choices.
"As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment, as it all depends on the selectors and the coaches," Manhas told Sportstar.
“But, from my perspective, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, definitely not age. If someone is fit to play, performing well and winning games for the country, that should be the only criterion we focus on.”
How will senior players support Gill's captaincy?
Manhas also addressed the role of senior players in supporting captain Shubman Gill during the World Cup campaign. Gill has captained Gujarat Titans for two or three years and currently leads India in ODIs. The BCCI President noted that having experienced players like Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Rohit in the squad will help Gill manage the demands of leadership.
"It will be extremely crucial. Shubman has been the captain of Gujarat Titans for two or three years now, apart from leading India. I think that experience will come in handy when he begins his World Cup campaign. Having Virat, Hardik (Pandya) and Rohit in the side will definitely help him," Manhas said.
"Then there are the likes of (Jasprit) Bumrah, who could take charge as the bowling captain, while someone else could lead the fielding unit. So, it is all about distributing the workload. It will be interesting to see how things unfold. But Shubman is a level-headed guy, and I think having the seniors around him will be an advantage," he concluded.
