MS Dhoni supported Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their aim to play the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. He said age should not decide whether a player stays on the team.
Dhoni clearly said that age is not important, but performance and fitness are. He said if a player is doing well and is fit, then there is no reason they shouldn’t play the next World Cup. Dhoni also added that even a 22-year-old can’t play international cricket if they are not fit, so fitness matters more than age.
Dhoni also talked about how important experienced players are in a team. He said you cannot suddenly get a young player who already has years of pressure-match experience, unless it is someone special like Sachin Tendulkar. According to him, if Rohit and Kohli keep performing and stay fit, they deserve to remain part of India’s ODI plans.
This comes at a time when both players are still performing strongly. Since the Australia tour, Virat Kohli has scored 616 runs in 9 matches with an average of 88, while Rohit Sharma has scored 409 runs with an average of 51. India’s next ODI series is scheduled in England from July, and the discussion around their 2027 role is still going on.
MS Dhoni’s Clear Message to Gambhir and Agarkar
MS Dhoni’s comments came at an important time because both Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have avoided giving a clear answer about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing the 2027 World Cup. They have kept repeating that the World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, so the focus should stay on the present.
Dhoni didn’t agree with that kind of thinking. He said selection should be based only on merit, not age or seniority. He used his own example and said that when he debuted at 24, nobody told him anything about age, and even now, nobody has the right to decide based on how old a player is.
Dhoni also strongly defended the value of experienced players. He made a powerful statement saying you cannot get a 20-year-old who is experienced, unless it is someone like Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16 and faced top-level pressure early.
He explained that real experience doesn’t come from playing just 20-25 matches. Dhoni said experience usually comes when players are in their 30s, because that is when they have played enough high-pressure games. He pointed out that players need to be tested repeatedly in tough situations to truly understand pressure.
MS Dhoni Calls Suryakumar-Led India ‘One of the Most Dangerous’ for T20 World Cup 2026
MS Dhoni has backed the current Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2026, calling it “one of the most dangerous teams” in the tournament. He said India has everything needed to defend their title, including talent, balance, and match-winning players.
Dhoni also praised the team’s experience, saying most players have already played pressure situations in this format for a long time. He feels the squad understands their roles well, which makes them even stronger going into a big tournament.
However, Dhoni pointed out one major worry — dew. He said he “hates dew” because it can completely change match conditions, making the toss very important. According to him, dew can shift the game heavily in favour of the team batting second.
The T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7, with India entering as defending champions after winning the 2024 edition under Rohit Sharma. The 20-team tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and dew is expected to play a big role.
Pakistan, the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands are in the group with India. Their matches are scheduled as follows: India vs USA on Feb 7 in Mumbai, India vs Namibia on Feb 12 in Delhi, India vs Pakistan on Feb 15 in Colombo, and India vs Netherlands on Feb 18 in Ahmedabad. The India vs Pakistan match is still uncertain because Pakistan’s government has announced a boycott.
FAQs
Q. Which teams are in Group A with India?
A. Pakistan, the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands are in the group with India.
Q. When is India’s next ODI series scheduled?
A. India’s next ODI series is scheduled in England in July.
Q. When does the T20 World Cup 2026 begin?
A. The T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.
