Rohit Sharma: Virat Kohli, playing his 5th World Cup, knows its importance
Synopsis
Rohit Sharma's pre-series interview with JioStar offers a rare window into the Kohli-Rohit dynamic ahead of the 2027 World Cup: no pep talks needed, just real-time batting tactics and injury updates. With Kohli entering his fifth 50-over World Cup — more than anyone else in the current squad — Rohit's message is that experience has made motivation redundant.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli will play his fifth 50-over World Cup in 2027 , having featured in the 2011, 2015, 2019 , and 2023 editions — the most in the current India squad.
Rohit Sharma said Kohli needs no reminder of the tournament's importance, given his unmatched World Cup experience.
The two players' on-field conversations focus on tactical decisions — whom to attack, when to rotate strike — rather than motivation.
Rohit emphasised that his and Kohli's core team goal has remained unchanged across their careers: winning matches and tournaments for India.
The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup schedule was set to be announced on 1 October , with India currently in a preparation series against West Indies .
Rohit Sharma has said that Virat Kohli requires no motivation ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, describing the veteran batter as the most experienced World Cup campaigner in the current India squad. Speaking ahead of India's second ODI against West Indies on Wednesday, 1 October, Rohit made clear that his conversations with Kohli are not about the weight of the occasion — that is already understood — but about the practical business of winning matches.
Kohli's World Cup Record in the Squad
Virat Kohli is set to appear in his fifth 50-over World Cup in 2027, having featured in the 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 editions. That makes him the most experienced World Cup player in the current India setup by this measure. Rohit, who has shared the dressing room with Kohli across much of their international careers, said that record speaks for itself.
'He has been playing for so many years. Whether it's the '27 World Cup or the '23 World Cup, there's no need to explain it to him. World Cup is World Cup. And I'm pretty sure that everyone who is going to be part of the team understands the importance of a World Cup. And specially Kohli — the one who has played the most World Cups in this team, it's him,' Rohit said in an exclusive interview with JioStar.
What Rohit and Kohli Actually Discuss
Rather than motivational exchanges, Rohit revealed that his on-field conversations with Kohli are tactical and immediate. The two discuss which bowlers to target, when to rotate the strike, and even physical updates in real time.
'This discussion does not happen. The discussion is about what we can do. When we are batting together, we are discussing about whom to attack, whom to take a single off, what to do. Sometimes something happens in my leg, so I tell him, "Brother, run carefully, I'm feeling something." So he is understanding that way. Such conversations keep happening. So it's been pretty fun,' Rohit said.
A Partnership Unchanged at Its Core
Rohit acknowledged that both he and Kohli have evolved individually over the years — in roles, responsibilities, and leadership — but insisted the underlying goal has never shifted. Whether one of them was captain or a senior player, the focus has remained on collective outcomes.
'Nothing has changed from when we started to now. Obviously, we're different individuals in terms of how we carry ourselves on the field, but other than that, goal, thinking for the team is pretty much the same: that we have to win the match. We have to win the World Cup, we have to win the tournament, we have to win the series, we have to do well for the team,' he stated.
Context: India's 2027 World Cup Build-Up
The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup schedule is set to be announced on 1 October. India's current ODI series against West Indies is part of a broader preparation cycle as the team assembles its core group for the tournament. Rohit's remarks underline how the Kohli-Rohit partnership — one of the most enduring in Indian white-ball cricket since the late 2000s — continues to serve as an anchor for team culture and match strategy. Notably, this is the first time Kohli will enter a World Cup cycle without holding the captaincy, adding a different dimension to his role in the squad's leadership dynamics.
Point of View
Which is a mark of a mature dressing room. What is worth watching, however, is how Kohli's evolving role without the captaincy armband shapes his influence in the 2027 cycle; experience and authority are not always the same thing. The real test of this partnership's value will come under World Cup pressure, where tactical clarity between the two at the crease has historically defined India's big-match innings.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ODI World Cups has Virat Kohli played?
Virat Kohli has played four ODI World Cups so far — in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. The 2027 edition will be his fifth, making him the most experienced World Cup player in the current India squad.
What did Rohit Sharma say about Virat Kohli and the 2027 World Cup?
Rohit Sharma said Kohli needs no reminder of the World Cup's importance, given that he has played more 50-over World Cups than anyone else in the current India team. Rohit made the remarks in an interview with JioStar ahead of India's second ODI against West Indies.
What do Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli discuss when batting together?
According to Rohit, their conversations at the crease are tactical — focused on which bowlers to target, when to take singles, and real-time physical updates. He described the exchanges as 'pretty fun' and said motivational discussions about the World Cup do not feature.
When is the 2027 ODI World Cup schedule being announced?
The ICC Men's ODI World Cup schedule announcement was set for 1 October, to be broadcast on JioHotstar and Star Sports.
How has the Rohit-Kohli partnership evolved over the years?
Rohit said that while both players have changed individually in how they carry themselves on the field, their shared objective has remained constant: winning matches, series, and tournaments for India. He noted the core team-first mindset has not shifted since they began playing together.
