According to a news source on Monday, former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi defended star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and rejected attempts to bench the two legends from the Indian ODI team, saying they are the team's foundation and must play until the 2027 World Cup. Afridi stated, "It's a fact that Virat and Rohit are the backbone of the Indian batting line-up, and the way they have played in the recent ODI series, it can confidently be said that they can play until the 2027 World Cup," according to a Telecom Asia Sport report.

According to Afridi, the two greats ought to appear in important series. The former opener told telecomasia.net on Monday, "You need to preserve both these stars, and when India is playing against a weaker team, they can try some new players and rest Virat and Rohit."
Afridi took aim at Gautam Gambhir, the Indian head coach, with whom he had several on-field altercations while he was a player. "The way Gautam started his stint, it looked like he thought that what he thinks and says is right, but after some time, it was proved that you are not always right."

When Rohit broke his record for most sixes in ODI cricket, Afridi was ecstatic. "Records are supposed to be broken, and this has also improved. That a player I've always loved broke this record makes me pleased.
"One player sets records, and then another player smashes them. My quickest century record stood for over eighteen years before it was eventually beaten. This is the game of cricket.
In the second ODI against South Africa at Raipur, Rohit eclipsed Afridi's 351 sixes in 398 games to get 355 in 279 games. "I liked Rohit when I played with him for the Deccan Chargers during my one and only Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008.

"I watched him bat during the Chargers' practice sessions, and I was struck by his class. Rohit has shown himself to be a sophisticated batter, and I felt he will play for India sometime," he remarked.