MS Dhoni has strongly backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play the 2027 ODI World Cup if they stay fit and keep performing. The cricket legend said age shouldn’t matter, only performance and fitness should decide their future in a rare interview.

Dhoni’s Clear Stance on Age Debate

Speaking to Jatin Sapru in an interview facilitated by MYK Laticrete, Dhoni addressed the ongoing debate about Rohit (38) and Virat (37) featuring in the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. “Why not, why somebody should not play the World Cup? For me, age is not a criteria, performance, fitness these are criteria,” Dhoni stated firmly.

The 44-year-old, who still plays IPL for Chennai Super Kings, made his position crystal clear. “Nobody should be told anything. Things should be clear that everyone will be treated the same way. When I made my debut I was 24, nobody told me anything. Now when I am playing for India for 10 years, 20 years, nobody needs to come and tell me about my age.”

Dhoni emphasized that the decision belongs to the players themselves. “Whether Rohit or Virat can or cannot play the next World Cup, it’s not for us to decide, it’s for them to decide. If they keep playing well, if they have the urge to do well for the country, then why not.”

Experience Cannot Be Manufactured

Dhoni highlighted the importance of experience in big tournaments. “You can’t get experienced people. You can’t get a 20-year-old who is experienced unless it’s a Sachin Tendulkar. You get experience at that age only if you start playing when you’re 16 or 17.”

He explained that true experience comes from handling pressure over many matches. “If you’re calling 20 games and 25 games as experience, then they are not experienced. You need people to be under the pump in the job they are doing. I have to play 80 games, 85 games to know how to tame my heart, my emotion, how to handle pressure. The right combination of experience and youthfulness is very important.”

Current head coach Gautam Gambhir has stayed non-committal on Rohit and Virat’s future, but Dhoni’s words provide strong support. Both stars now play only ODIs after retiring from Tests and T20Is. Virat recently scored 616 runs in his last seven ODI innings, while Rohit made 146 against South Africa, showing they still have plenty to offer.

Simple Selection Formula

Dhoni proposed a straightforward selection policy. “Treat everyone equally. People are performing, they’ll be there. People are not performing, they won’t be there. If the guy is not fit you can chuck him out any time. There’s only one criteria - you’re performing, you’re fit, keep on playing.”

This no-nonsense approach removes age as a factor completely. India’s ODI schedule builds toward the 2027 World Cup with series against South Africa, breaks for IPL and other tournaments, then Asia Cup 2027 in Bangladesh before the main event.

India’s T20 World Cup Chances

Dhoni then turned his attention to the T20 World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. The 2007 T20 World Cup-winning captain called Suryakumar Yadav’s team “one of the most dangerous teams” but warned about the dew factor.

“What all is needed in a good team, everything is there. They have the experience especially when it comes to this format. They have played under pressure,” Dhoni said. However, he added a caution: “What worries me, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. Even when I was playing, dew really scared me because the toss becomes crucial.”

Dew affects evening matches in February-March in India, making the ball wet and harder to grip for bowlers. This can turn chasing into an advantage, making toss luck crucial.

India’s Advantages

Despite dew concerns, Dhoni backed India’s chances. “Nobody should get injured, whatever roles are given, people should accomplish their roles. If that’s the case, I don’t want to jinx it by saying anything, but it’s one of the most dangerous teams.”

India have won 31 of 39 matches under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching with Suryakumar as captain - a 79.48% success rate. They recently beat New Zealand 4-1 and defeated South Africa by 30 runs in the warm-up. Ishan Kishan’s blazing form, Abhishek Sharma holding the number one T20I ranking, and Varun Chakravarthy leading the bowling charts make them favorites.

Anil Kumble earlier echoed dew concerns but backed India’s spinners to adapt. With home advantage, passionate crowds, and a balanced squad, India look set to defend their title.

Legacy of India’s Greatest Finisher

Dhoni’s words carry weight because he’s lived through similar debates. He played international cricket until 2020, retiring from all formats at 39. His IPL career continues at 44, proving fitness and performance matter more than birth certificates.

His support for Rohit and Virat ends speculation about their international futures. If they maintain fitness and form, they’ll play the 2027 World Cup. Simple as that.