New Delhi: Former India captain MS Dhoni has weighed in on the debate over whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be automatic selections for the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying that age should never be the deciding factor and that performance and fitness must remain the only criteria.

Speaking at a public event, Dhoni said that if the senior batters are fit and delivering results, there is no reason they should be excluded from India’s plans for the next ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027. He emphasised that selection standards should remain uniform for all players, regardless of seniority or reputation.

The remarks come amid ongoing discussion about transition planning in India’s ODI squad and whether the team management should begin phasing in younger players ahead of the next global tournament.

“Performance and fitness are the criteria”

Dhoni made his position clear, stating that numerical age should not be used as a selection filter if a player continues to meet competitive standards.

“For me, age is not a criterion. Performance and fitness are the criteria,” he said. He added that players should not be pressured publicly about retirement timelines and that the call should be left largely to individuals in consultation with selectors and team management.

He stressed that selection policy should be transparent and consistent across the board. According to him, every cricketer — senior or junior — should be judged on the same benchmarks of output and physical readiness.

Dhoni noted that when he entered international cricket in his mid-20s, age was not treated as a barrier, and the same principle should apply later in a player’s career as well.

Draws from his own late-career World Cup experience

Referring indirectly to his own participation in the 2019 ODI World Cup late in his career, Dhoni suggested that experience can be a major asset in high-pressure tournaments.

He said major ICC events require players who understand match pressure, emotional control and situational awareness — qualities that are often built over many international matches.

“You need players who have played 80 or 85 internationals to understand how to tame your heart, how to control emotions and handle pressure. The right balance between experience and youth is very important,” he said.

Dhoni, now 44, continues to play in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings and remains an influential voice in Indian cricket discussions.

Selectors and coach non-committal so far

India head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have so far not given any firm public indication about the long-term ODI futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both senior players are currently focused primarily on the ODI format after stepping away from some other formats in phases.

Team insiders have indicated that workload, fitness, form and long-term planning will all be considered as India builds toward the next ODI World Cup cycle.

Dhoni, however, argued that the framework should remain simple and merit-based.

“Treat everyone equally. If people are performing, they’ll be there. If they’re not performing, they won’t be there. If a guy is not fit, you can chuck him out at any point,” he said.

Kohli, Rohit form part of transition debate

The discussion around Kohli and Rohit centres on whether India should carry senior batters into the next World Cup cycle or invest early in younger options. Supporters of continuity point to their experience, ODI records and match-winning pedigree, while those favouring transition cite the need to build a stable core for the future.

Recent ODI performances — especially from Kohli — have strengthened the argument for continuity among many observers, who say form and output should outweigh age projections made years in advance.

Dhoni’s comments reinforce the view that major tournament squads should not be selected on projected age but on current merit closer to the event.

Conclusion

Dhoni’s intervention adds weight to the performance-first argument in India’s World Cup selection debate. By backing a merit-based approach over age-based transition, the former captain has underlined that fitness, form and experience — not birth dates — should decide whether Kohli and Rohit feature in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans.