Before the three-match ODI series against England, which starts at Edgbaston on July 14, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will reunite at the nets for the first time since January. Social media footage of the event showed the couple having fun together while the England location was being prepared.
Both veterans will next be seen in action after the five-match T20I series against England is over. They are now solely focused on ODI cricket. As they get ready to compete in the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, their comeback to the 50-over format represents an important turning point. Before the competition, which is set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, 2027, the England tour offers vital preparation.
In January 2026, India lost 1-2 to New Zealand in their most recent ODI series. But throughout that series, Kohli was in excellent form. Kohli finished the series with 240 runs in three innings after scoring 124 runs off 108 balls in the last ODI at Indore. In his 624th innings, the right-hander scored 28,000 international runs, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run scorer in international cricket.
In contrast, Rohit had trouble throughout the New Zealand series. Prior to that, the veteran had mixed performances in the Afghanistan ODI series, scoring 14, 48, and 79. In the three matches, he scored 26, 24, and 11.
Developing for the 2027 World Cup with the England series
With the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 approaching, 2026 is a crucial year for older players like Kohli and Rohit.
If both continue to be part of Team India’s primary ODI plans, they are anticipated to play the majority of games in 2026, making the England tour crucial for both batters.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final, Kohli was included in the ODI squad; however, his participation is still contingent upon receiving the required fitness clearance.
The series includes games at Lord’s on July 19, Cardiff on July 16, and Edgbaston on July 14. These locations will test the veterans’ preparedness for the next World Cup and present unique obstacles.
Both batsmen offer India’s white-ball system a wealth of experience. With 33 hundreds, Rohit is third on the list of all-time ODI hundreds, after Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli is still setting records in all forms.
