'If you think Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will win...': Kapil Dev makes bold claim on World Cup hopes

The transition stage of team India is already underway. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are unlikely to play T20 cricket regularly and their future in ODIs is set to bear the same look following this year's World Cup.

Rohit and Kohli have been driving forces of Indian cricket for past 10 years or so. They still are among the top players in world cricket when it comes to limited-overs cricket but a lot has changed in the last few years.

The runs don't come as regularly as they used to from both of these batters, there is a massive pool of talent waiting for opportunities.

India's 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev, therefore, said it will be better if India don't set their hopes of winning the quadrennial event on Kohli and Rohit alone.

"If you want to win the World Cup, the coach, selectors, and team management will have to make some tough decisions. Personal interests will have to take a backseat and they will need to think about the team. Aap Virat pe, Rohit pe ya 2-3 players pe bhadosa karenge ki wo hume World Cup jeetayenge toh aisa kabhi bhi nahi ho sakta (If you think Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and 2-3 players will win us the World Cup then that's never going to happen). You should believe in your team. Do we have such a team? Definitely. Do we have certain match winners? Yes, of course! We have players who can win the World Cup," Kapil told ABP News.

Rohit Sharma, who is team India's current all-format captain, has not scored a century in ODI cricket for more than two years now. Kohli, on the other hand, ended a 36-month-long wait for an ODI century in the third match against Bangladesh.

India's 1983 World Cup-winning skipper said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have done their part, now it is the time for the younger generation to step up and take the team forward.

"There are always a couple of players who turn out to be the pillars of your side. The team revolves around them but we need to break that and build at least 5-6 players like that. That's why I say, you can't depend on Virat and Rohit. You need players who fulfil each of their responsibilities. The youngsters will need to come forward and say 'it is our time'," Kapil said.

At the end of this year's World Cup, Rohit will almost be 37 while Virat would have just turned 36. Kapil Dev said it would take a herculean task for the duo to play in the next ODI World Cup.

"The biggest positive is that the World Cup will happen in India. Nobody knows the conditions better than we do. For the last 8-10 years, Rohit and Virat have been two of the most important cricketers for India. Many have started to ask the question if this will be Virat and Rohit's last World Cup. I believe they can play but they will need to work really hard. Fitness will play a key role. There are a lot of youngsters coming up, will they be able to compete with them? There is a question mark but it depends on how they want to play their game. There is no shortage of ability," he added.

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