NEW DELHI: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes the experience of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be crucial to India’s title chances at the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying the veteran duo can play a major role in supporting captain Shubman Gill during high-pressure moments in the big tournament.Kumble also praised Gill’s leadership during IPL 2026. He highlighted Gill’s ability to manage resources effectively while continuing to score runs consistently.“We have seen in the IPL that he has rotated his bowlers well, used his spinners at the right time, and handled pressure situations with clarity. His form with the bat has not dipped,” Kumble said on JioStar.Gill enjoyed an outstanding IPL 2026 campaign, leading Gujarat Titans to the final before they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who secured their second successive IPL title. The India captain finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 732 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.02, including one century and six half-centuries.Kumble feels Gill will benefit greatly from having Rohit and Kohli around him in the ODI setup.“They (Virat and Rohit) can guide him with field placements, bowling changes, and key tactical decisions. Shubman doesn’t have to carry the burden alone,” Kumble said.Both Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20Is and Test cricket and now play only ODI cricket for India. Their World Cup records underline why Kumble values their presence in the squad.At the 2019 ODI World Cup, Rohit finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 648 runs in nine matches at an average of 81.00, including five centuries and a fifty. He became the first batter in World Cup history to score five hundreds in a single edition.Kohli, meanwhile, dominated the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring a record-breaking 765 runs in 11 innings. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 673 runs in a single World Cup and was named Player of the Tournament.Kumble backs Prince YadavKumble also welcomed the selection of young pacer Prince Yadav in India’s ODI squad, saying the fast bowler had earned his opportunity through strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL.“His variety, cutters, slower balls and yorkers make him an all-phase bowler,” Kumble said.
