After Agarkar’s ‘non-committal’ remark, Shubman Gill clears air on Rohit, Kohli’s 2027 WC future
New Delhi: India’s newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill has said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain very much in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, putting to rest speculation about the senior players’ future in the 50-over format.
Speaking to the media for the first time since being named captain, Gill said the team values the immense experience and match-winning ability that both stalwarts bring, adding that their inclusion for the next World Cup in South Africa will depend purely on form and fitness.
“The experience they have and the number of matches they have won for India, there are very few players who have done that,” Gill said ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Thursday. “There are very few players in the world with such skill, quality, and experience. From that perspective, we are definitely looking at them for 2027.”
Gill’s statement comes days after chief selector Ajit Agarkar gave a “non-committal” response when asked about Rohit and Kohli’s long-term roles in white-ball cricket, hinting at a possible generational shift.
With India now opting for separate captains across formats, Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as ODI skipper after earlier taking over the Test captaincy. The move was reportedly made to avoid leadership overlap, leaving both Rohit and Kohli to compete for places in the squad based on performance.
Reflecting on his leadership journey, Gill said he continues to learn from his predecessor’s approach. “There are so many qualities that I have inherited from Rohit bhai, and still want to,” he said. “The calmness he brings and the friendships he has built in the team are something I truly admire. These are the qualities I want to take from him.”
Both Rohit and Kohli are set to make their return to professional cricket during India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia later this month. The three-match ODI series begins in Perth on October 19, followed by five T20Is.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
