16 January,2026 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Aakash Chopra (Pic: File Pic)
Former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra heaped praise on the current form of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He said that Kohli is in the best ODI form of his life and also expressed his desire to see Rohit smash a century in the third ODI.
Considering that the next ODI series is six months away, Chopra said that Rohit has nothing to prove to anyone.
"There's no doubt that he (Rohit Sharma) is batting well. He batted well in Adelaide, scored a century in Sydney, and made fifties in the South Africa series. In the ongoing series as well, he has looked good for the time he batted. I don't think it is logical to judge Rohit Sharma at the moment, given the next ODI (after the New Zealand series) is about six months away. He doesn't have to prove anything. Let's hope we get to see Rohit score a century at Indore in the last match of the ongoing series," he told ANI.
"You would not be asking me this had the World Cup been tomorrow. My perspective is that questions about his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup should wait till 2027. However, the way he is playing currently, I don't think we have ever seen him bat this well in the ODIs," the former cricketer said about Kohli.
Additionally, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India's Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have sustained injuries and will not be available for the T20I series against New Zealand, which is scheduled before the global showpiece.
Chopra is hopeful that the injuries don't become an issue for the "Men in Blue" leading to the marquee tournament.
"It is a little concerning, of course, but today is January 15, and our first T20 World Cup match is on February 7. So, let's hope the injuries don't become an issue and the team is all ready by the time the World Cup is here," said the 48-year-old former cricketer.
Team India will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
(With ANI Inputs)
