I want to see both Rohit and Kohli playing for the longest time: Irfan Pathan

NEW DELHI: India will kick off their 2026 campaign with a home white-ball series against New Zealand, beginning with a three-match ODI series that will see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to action in India colours. With an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan urged the senior duo to remain actively involved in domestic cricket whenever they are not on international duty.

Speaking on JioStar, Pathan emphasised the importance of sustained match practice for Rohit and Kohli, particularly given that they’re active only in ODIs, as India begin planning for the next World Cup cycle.

“You definitely want to think about the ICC 2027 ODI World Cup. It is far away, but I just want to see both Rohit and Kohli playing for the longest time, for India and when not playing international cricket, in domestic cricket. They are playing just one format and nothing else, so the more they play, the better it is,” Pathan said.