Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Preparing For Farewell? Mohammad Kaif Drops A Major Hint Ahead Of Australia Series News24 –

For over 15 years, Indian cricket has been defined by two names – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Together, they carried the weight of a billion dreams, lifting trophies, scripting chases, and dominating bowling attacks across formats. But as the sun slowly begins to set on their era, the signs of a looming transition are becoming more evident.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has now added fuel to the fire, predicting that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be Rohit’s final chapter in international cricket. “He is almost 38 and I believe will retire after the 2027 ODI World Cup,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel. For fans, those words sting – the reality that Rohit, the smiling assassin with five centuries in a single World Cup, may be preparing for his farewell.

Gill – The Chosen Successor

Kaif’s bold prediction doesn’t come in isolation. It’s backed by the meteoric rise of Shubman Gill, who seems to be slipping seamlessly into the roles once occupied by India’s stalwarts. From being handed the Test captaincy after Rohit’s retirement from the format, to being named vice-captain in T20Is under Suryakumar Yadav, Gill’s ascent has been nothing short of a fairytale.

Gill’s form in England – 754 runs in a gripping 2-2 Test series draw – underlined his ability to lead from the front. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar even hailed his temperament, saying, “He exceeded all our expectations with the kind of form that he showed with his bat, which is a great sign when there is so much pressure on you as a captain.”

And while he was left out of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024, Gill’s return as a leader in Zimbabwe and now as a vice-captain for the Asia Cup shows the management’s long-term vision.

The Kohli–Rohit Parallel

The shift in leadership also draws inevitable comparisons to Virat Kohli’s journey. Kohli, like Rohit, bid farewell to T20Is and Tests, narrowing his focus to ODIs – the last bastion of his glorious career. But with India’s future seemingly aligned with youth, the writing on the wall appears similar for both veterans.

At 36, Kohli still commands adoration like no other, but the whispers about his ODI swansong are growing louder, much like the chatter surrounding Rohit. If Rohit’s last dance is indeed 2027, could Kohli’s be alongside him? For Indian fans, the thought of both stalwarts walking away around the same time is as nostalgic as it is heartbreaking.

Passing the Baton

Kaif’s confidence in Gill as the “all-format captain of the future” paints a clear picture of where Indian cricket is heading. “In the last three years, Gill has scored 2,000 runs. He is the future captain. He is the Test captain, and in T20Is, he is the vice-captain. Rohit is the ODI captain… When he steps away, Gill will become the captain,” Kaif asserted.

For now, Rohit continues to lead, and Kohli continues to inspire. But the transition is inevitable. With Gill and others knocking hard, Indian cricket is bracing for the end of an era – the Kohli–Rohit era – that gave fans some of the most unforgettable moments in the game’s history.

And when the curtain does finally fall, it won’t just mark the retirement of two icons. It will mark the end of an age where Indian cricket believed, more often than not, that victory was always within reach as long as Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli were at the crease.