Ashwin: 'Cannot touch Virat, Rohit' if they want to play for 2027 WC
Synopsis
Ravichandran Ashwin has declared Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli untouchable by selectors as long as they want to play — and Rohit's 138 at Lord's, even in a losing cause, is Ashwin's Exhibit A. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in view, the debate over India's veteran batting pair just got a powerful new voice.
Key Takeaways
Ravichandran Ashwin said selectors 'cannot touch' Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as long as the pair wish to continue playing for India.
Ashwin cited Rohit's near- 12,000 ODI runs and the duo's massive fan following as reasons their continuation is non-negotiable.
Rohit scored 138 in the series decider at Lord's , which Ashwin described as a 'phenomenal knock' and a sign of a comeback from injury.
Despite the innings, India were restricted to 360/7 and lost by 27 runs , with England clinching the three-match ODI series 2-1 .
Ashwin said Rohit's motivation is now purely internal — a desire to feature at the 2027 ODI World Cup , not a need to prove himself to critics.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has firmly backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue in international cricket for as long as they choose, saying the veteran pair are effectively untouchable given their stature and fan following. Ashwin's remarks, made on 20 July, came in the wake of Rohit's commanding 138 in the series decider against England at Lord's, which reignited debate about the duo's futures ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Ashwin's Verdict on the Veteran Duo
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin was unequivocal about the pair's standing in Indian cricket. 'They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him. The other thing is that they are batters, and if you touch them, they have an army. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down,' he said.
The remarks arrive at a moment when both veterans face recurring questions about longevity — questions that Ashwin effectively dismissed by pointing to their match-winning pedigree and mass appeal as sufficient grounds to let them dictate their own timelines.
Rohit's Lord's Knock and What Ashwin Saw
Ashwin was effusive in his praise for Rohit's 138 at Lord's, describing it as a landmark innings in the context of the opener's return from injury. 'This is a phenomenal knock. He was set after hitting that pull to Josh Tongue. I feel that this is Rohit's road to a comeback after an injury. If he were in a slightly better state or were more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt like Rohit was in really good form,' Ashwin said.
Notably, despite Rohit's innings, India were bowled out for 360/7 as England held their nerve in the closing overs to seal a 27-run victory and clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1. The knock, therefore, came in a losing cause — but Ashwin's reading was that the quality of the innings mattered more than the result in assessing Rohit's current form.
World Cup Hunger, Not Proof — Ashwin's Take on Rohit's Motivation
Ashwin also offered a nuanced reading of what is driving Rohit at this stage of his career, suggesting it is no longer about silencing critics but about a personal ambition to feature at the 2027 ODI World Cup. 'The position he is in and the way he batted, it's not that difficult for him. We have seen him for so many years; there's nothing left to prove. Whom does he have to prove? It is only about the internal appetite: I want to go to the World Cup, that's why I need to play like this,' Ashwin stated.
This framing — motivation rooted in desire rather than desperation — is significant. It positions Rohit not as a player fighting for survival but as one choosing to extend a decorated career on his own terms.
Series Result and What Comes Next
England's 27-run win at Lord's gave them the ODI series 2-1, a result that will sharpen the spotlight on India's batting depth and selection philosophy going forward. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, the debate over how long Rohit and Kohli should — or will — continue is unlikely to fade. Ashwin's intervention adds a high-profile voice to those arguing that the decision must remain with the players themselves.
Point of View
But they are not the only ones — form, fitness, and squad balance matter too, and India's ODI middle order has long needed structural clarity. The framing of Rohit and Kohli as untouchable risks conflating past achievement with present necessity. That said, Rohit's 138 at Lord's — in a losing cause, after injury — is precisely the kind of innings that makes the counter-argument difficult to sustain. The real question for India's selectors is not whether to drop these two, but whether the system around them is being built with or without them at its centre for 2027.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ravichandran Ashwin say about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?
Ashwin said selectors 'cannot touch' Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as long as they want to play, citing their credentials, run tallies, and enormous fan following. He made the remarks on his YouTube channel following Rohit's 138 against England at Lord's on 20 July.
How did Rohit Sharma perform at Lord's against England?
Rohit Sharma scored 138 in the series decider at Lord's, which Ashwin described as a 'phenomenal knock' and evidence of a strong comeback from injury. However, India were restricted to 360/7 and lost the match by 27 runs, with England winning the ODI series 2-1.
What did Ashwin say about Rohit's motivation ahead of the 2027 World Cup?
Ashwin said Rohit's drive is no longer about proving himself to critics but stems from a personal desire to play at the 2027 ODI World Cup. He said Rohit has 'nothing left to prove' and his continued performances are fuelled purely by internal ambition.
What was the result of the India vs England ODI series?
England won the three-match ODI series 2-1, sealing the decider with a 27-run victory at Lord's despite Rohit Sharma's 138. India were bowled out for 360/7 as England held their nerve in the closing overs.
Why does Ashwin say Rohit Sharma cannot be dropped?
Ashwin pointed to Rohit's near-12,000 ODI runs and the pair's massive public following, arguing that dropping either Rohit or Kohli would provoke a backlash — 'it will just break the roof down,' he said. He views their continuation as a matter of earned right, not selection debate.
