Former New Zealand assistant coach James Pamment has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to be fully supported in their bid to feature at the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup in South Africa, arguing that two of cricket's greatest servants have earned the right to determine when they walk away from the game.

Pamment's Case for the Veteran Duo

Pamment, who spent eight years with Mumbai Indians as a fielding coach — working closely alongside Rohit during the franchise's IPL 2019 and IPL 2020 title-winning campaigns — said the decision must ultimately rest with the players themselves.

'Those guys have earned the right to make the decision on when they do want to move away. If they have decided that the ODI World Cup in South Africa is a pinnacle event that they want to be at, then they should be supported to be there. Then it becomes about performance and contribution to the group,' Pamment said in an exclusive interaction.

On Kohli, whom he has observed closely while working with the New Zealand team and Mumbai Indians, Pamment was effusive: 'He's just the ultimate professional. So he's the sort of guy that I would want in my environment the whole time.'

The Wider Context: Futures Under Scrutiny

The remarks come at a sensitive juncture for Indian cricket. Since Rohit was removed as captain despite leading India to the 2025 Champions Trophy title, every bilateral ODI assignment has doubled as an informal referendum on the pair's international longevity. India last won an ODI series in New Zealand in 2018/19, adding further weight to the upcoming five-match series starting 4 November. Notably, Test-bound players will be unavailable for the final two games, placing added responsibility on Rohit and Kohli.

Pamment acknowledged the natural threshold, however: 'As soon as that starts to wane a little bit, they'll know more than anybody else. If the passion starts to wane and it becomes a drag to be travelling, training and playing, that's the time when you step aside.'

New Zealand: A Dress Rehearsal for South Africa

Beyond the individual careers at stake, Pamment positioned the New Zealand tour as an ideal preparatory ground for the 2027 World Cup. He noted that coastal New Zealand venues closely mirror conditions at South African grounds such as Durban, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), and Newlands — making match experience here directly transferable.

'For New Zealand fans and fans in general of cricket, to be able to say we're going to get Rohit and Virat here again, maybe for the last time, is incredible,' he said, pointing to 115,000 tickets already sold across the three-format series, with 63,000 of those for the T20Is alone. He predicted all five ODIs would sell out, and forecast a crowd of between 42,000 and 45,000 at the Auckland T20I — potentially breaking the bilateral record of 36,000–37,000.

Financial Stakes for New Zealand Cricket

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) posted a NZ$7 million loss last year, and Pamment was candid about the series' commercial significance: 'Looking for this series to just financially put them on a solid footing and it usually does.' He also pointed to New Zealand's growing Indian diaspora as a major driver of ticket demand, particularly at the Auckland venue where expatriate Indian fans are expected in large numbers.

Bowling, Batting and the Dew Concern

With Jasprit Bumrah held back for the Tests, the series opens a door for India's younger fast bowlers to press their World Cup claims. Pamment advised quick adaptation to New Zealand's improved surfaces, which now offer more pace and bounce than in previous years, rewarding bowlers who consistently hit the top-of-off, fourth-stump line.

On the batting side, he set a 300-plus benchmark as an achievable ODI target across all venues, provided partnerships and positive intent are in place. His principal concern, however, was scheduling: with 3 pm starts, first innings would extend to around 7 pm and matches conclude near midnight, raising the prospect of dew affecting the second innings and distorting the contest. 'I love to think that a team can win the toss, look at the wicket and think we should be batting first here,' he said, expressing hope that conditions would not hand an unfair advantage to the team batting second.

With both players potentially making their final appearances in New Zealand, the series carries a weight that transcends the bilateral record — and Pamment's assessment suggests the cricketing world would be poorer for their premature absence from South Africa in 2027.