“It’s inevitable…” – England legend opens up on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI future

Former England spinner Graeme Swann recently spoke about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI cricket. Swann said questions about who will eventually replace the two Indian stars are natural ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027, set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November.

India, led by Shubman Gill, have two ODIs remaining in the ongoing series against Afghanistan. Following the ongoing series, the team will travel to England for a three-match ODI series in July, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to play key roles in India’s preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup.

It’s Inevitable – Graeme Swann Opens Up on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Future

Speaking to PTI, Graeme Swann said that it is natural for fans and experts to start looking for the next generation of players when senior stars reach the later stages of their careers.

“It’s inevitable with any player when they reach the latter stages of their career that people start looking for their successor. No matter how well you’re doing, even if you’re at the top of your game, people still ask who will be the next Virat and who will be the next Rohit. That’s completely natural.”

VIDEO | India may still have two ODIs remaining against Afghanistan, but conversations about the future are never far away when it comes to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann believes that is simply the reality facing every great player in the… pic.twitter.com/wURcli3xSO

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 14, 2026

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from T20Is and Test cricket but continue to represent India in ODIs. The two veterans played a major role in India’s run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, finishing as the team’s leading run-scorers.

During the tournament, Rohit and Virat combined for 1,362 runs in 22 innings, including four centuries and nine half-centuries. India won their first 10 matches before losing the final.

The Moment You Have One or Two Low Scores… – Graeme Swann on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Graeme Swann said that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma face greater scrutiny when young talents start pushing for places in the national team. He added that even a couple of low scores can lead to questions about their future, especially when promising youngsters are waiting for opportunities.

“The moment you have one or two low scores, everyone starts looking over your shoulder to see who’s next in line. With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and some of the other youngsters coming through, it puts even more pressure on the senior players, especially those at the top of India’s batting order.”

Virat, 37, and Rohit, 39, remain key members of India’s ODI setup. However, with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, the team management will continue to assess their long-term plans while also giving opportunities to younger players.

I’d Have to Say Virat Kohli – Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann said that Virat Kohli continues to improve despite being in the later stages of his career. He also praised Rohit Sharma’s form and noted that both batters looked in excellent touch during IPL 2026.

“I think you’d have to say Virat, just because of the way the IPL went. Players are supposed to taper off towards the end of their careers and get worse, but Virat seems to be getting better and better. Rohit Sharma also looked in great touch during the IPL. The difference was that Mumbai weren’t performing the way RCB were. RCB went all the way to the final, and Virat scored well there too.”

Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the IPL 2026 final, while Mumbai Indians fell short despite Rohit’s strong performances. Virat and Rohit remain key figures in India’s ODI plans as the team builds towards the World Cup. Notably, Virat was ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series due to a hamstring injury.