Fitness and form should be the criteria for selection, not age: Mithun Manhas

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s selection for the 2027 ODI World Cup should depend on fitness and performances, and not their age, said BCCI president Mithun Manhas.

“As far as the BCCI is concerned, we are not in a position to comment because it all depends on the selectors and the coaches. But from how I look at it, fitness and performance should be the criteria for selection, and definitely not age,” he told The Hindu.

“If somebody is fit to play, and you see him performing and winning games for the country, that is the only criterion we should focus on.”

Manhas believes experience will be vital as Shubman Gill prepares to lead India in the next ODI World Cup. He said the presence of Kohli, Rohit and Hardik Pandya could help Gill manage the demands of captaincy alongside Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership within the bowling group.

“Having Virat, Hardik and Rohit in the side will definitely help him. Then there is Bumrah, who could be the bowling captain, and somebody who could be the fielding captain. It’s all about distribution of workload,” Manhas said.

He felt that seniors could be crucial when the team comes under pressure, drawing on their experience in handling tough situations.

“They have been under pressure and delivered so many times in crunch situations. So, it’s valuable,” he said.

Manhas also backed India’s growing player-pool as a means of managing an increasingly demanding international calendar. With overlapping assignments and injuries posing challenges, he said the depth would help the team across formats.