'We're different individuals': Rohit Sharma speaks about relationship with Virat Kohli and 2027 ODI World Cup plans
‘We’re different individuals’: Rohit Sharma speaks about relationship with Virat Kohli and 2027 ODI World Cup plans originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Rohit Sharma claimed that he and Virat Kohli have a great friendship, even if they are different.
- He further stated that there is no need for discussion about the 2027 ODI World Cup for Kohli.
- Rohit said their conversations focus on improving and doing what is best for India.
Rohit Sharma on his relationship with Virat Kohli and 2027 World Cup plans
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been India teammates for around two decades now and have experienced many of the greatest moments of the team’s modern history.
The duo is involved in India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies as the 2027 ODI World Cup is fast approaching. The ODI captain of India is still Shubman Gill and the duo of Rohit and Kohli are still part of the batting lineup.
Speaking about his bond with Kohli ahead of the three-match series against West Indies, Rohit opened up in an interview with JioHotstar.
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Rohit Sharma on his relationship with Virat Kohli
Rohit stated that his friendship with Kohli goes back to the days when they were new to their international careers and now their relationship is one of camaraderie.
“We were together. This started, I think, when we were playing in Australia, or right after Australia when we came to India. That’s when this started, and whenever this plays on TV, we look at each other and laugh,” he stated.
“Both of us, we’ve almost started playing at the same time. I made my debut in 2007, he made his debut in 2008. And since then, we’ve been trying to give our best for the team.”
The former India skipper stated that even though their ways of doing things may be different but the ultimate aim is the same.
“There’s a strong camaraderie between the two of us, and we understand what it requires to be at a certain level when you’re playing at this level. Methods are different, obviously, but that’s how it should be, every individual is different,” he explained.
Appreciating Kohli’s efforts towards Indian cricket, Rohit stated that he expects the batter to carry on playing the game in the same manner.
“For what he has done for the team, for this team, there is no question, there is no asking what has he done. It’s there for everyone to see it. And what he is going to do from here on now, I don’t think anything has changed. He’ll be the same Kohli that we know of: wants to come, prepare well, go get the runs, win games for Team India.”
Rohit further clarified that Kohli’s approach has always been consistent irrespective of who the team’s captain has been.
“Yeah, that’s what I see with him. When he was captain, pretty much the same. When I was captain, pretty much the same. And I don’t see any reason why anything needs to change.”
Rohit sharma interview on jio hotstar….
On his relationship with Virat
ROHIT – I think we were together. This started, I think, when we were playing in Australia, or right after Australia when we came to India. That’s when this started, and whenever this plays on TV, we look… pic.twitter.com/nYd9kOcJyd
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) September 28, 2026
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Rohit on whether he has discussed the 2027 World Cup with Kohli
Kohli has participated in four ODI World Cups, including 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023, while the upcoming edition to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027 will be his fifth. It would also be Kohli’s last World Cup for India.
When Rohit was asked if he had discussed anything with Kohli about the World Cup, he said, “No, no. 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.
“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. I mean, the one who has played the most World Cups, I think in this team, it’s him.”
While the conversations did not revolve around the World Cup, Rohit mentioned that the discussions they have are always about the needs of the game.
“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.
“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.”
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Rohit Sharma on his bond and respect for Virat Kohli
Rohit also pointed out the respect that exists between them, as they have always continued to talk about how they can make their game better individually.
“Appreciation, appreciation if something good has happened, it has always been there from both sides.”
He especially mentioned the time when Kohli had taken charge of the Test team of India as its captain and also added that they have been discussing cricket ever since.
“I appreciate what he has done, you know, when he took over as a captain with the Test team, especially. It was brilliant, what he did with that team.
“There has been a lot of discussion about how both of us as individuals can improve our own game. So, sometimes if something is happening with my batting, he comes and mentions it, sometimes I mention it. So that conversation always keeps going, so it’s not different.”
They now find themselves spending less time together in between their assignments due to changes in their respective schedules, as explained by Rohit.
“Although yes, now we meet very rarely because his house is quite far from mine. And every month, or every month and a half, an ODI series happens, so because of that it’s less.
“Otherwise, until a year ago, every 5-7 days we were on tour, so we didn’t get much time at home. Now both of us are spending more time at home, which is always nice.”
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 2027 World Cup plans
Kohli and Rohit are concentrating on the Indian ODI campaign and the 2027 World Cup. It is known that the next World Cup will be Kohli’s last, while Rohit hasn’t announced an end date for his ODI career.
These statements by Rohit revealed that although both players have different approaches to cricket and are quite different from one another, their aims in cricket are the same. At the moment, they just want to help India win matches.
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