The Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of which were made barely a week apart, created waves in Indian cricket. While the departures brought closure to an era of red-ball cricket, they also created new hopes of a dream conclusion to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Although the tournament is more than two years away, the potential for the two Indian legends to play in what could be their last ICC event has captured the hearts of fans.

By 2027, Kohli will be 39 and Rohit 40 which also demands exceptional fitness and discipline to play at the top. But with Test and T20 formats off their backs both of which hog the cricketing calendar till the next World Cup there is now a possibility for both players to commit themselves wholeheartedly to ODIs.

But not everyone is upbeat. India’s former captain Sourav Ganguly thinks the path to the World Cup isn’t so simple. India have at least 27 ODIs lined up until the World Cup. In Ganguly’s opinion, if Kohli and Rohit are keen on their World Cup dreams, they need to remain in the midst of the action facing most, if not all, of these matches.

“It won’t be easy. 15 games a year. I’ve got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do. And they will take a call. But all of us must understand that just like everyone, the game will go away from them and they will go away from the game,” said former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to PTI

The pair has already accumulated meaningful white-ball triumph: a T20 World Cup and two Champions Trophy titles. An ODI World Cup victory would be the icing on the cake, enabling them to retire in fairy-tale style. Although the IPL does not have a direct bearing on ODI form, the rigors of the 14-match competition are able to serve as a help towards sustaining rhythm and conditioning, ensuring that both players remain match-fit.