Indian Rohit Sharma (AP Photo)
Former England all-rounder Graeme Swann believes the growing debate over the futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is an inevitable part of elite sport, especially when a new generation of talent starts making headlines.Although India still have two ODIs remaining in their ongoing series against Afghanistan, attention is already turning towards the challenges that lie ahead, including the upcoming three-match ODI tour of England in July and preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup.
Speaking to PTI, Swann said that speculation about successors is something every great player faces, regardless of their current form.“Absolutely. I think it’s inevitable for any player when you get to the last stage of your career, or the second half of your career, if you like, that people naturally start looking for your successor, no matter how well you perform,” Swan said.“And even if you are at the top of your game, they still wonder, who will be the next Virat? Who will be the next Rohit when they leave? That is very normal.“And the minute you get one or two low scores, everyone starts looking over your shoulder and seeing who’s next in line.“And of course, with Sooryavanshi and some of the youngsters coming in, it puts more burden on the players, especially at the top of the Indian standings.”
Swan feels the next few weeks could be particularly important for Rohit Sharma as India continues to strike a balance between experienced campaigners and emerging stars.“So I think it’s a huge six weeks for Rohit. But like I said, in the Indian Premier League, he looks in great form and is still one of the best players, let’s face it.“So, if I were an English player, I wouldn’t really want to face Rohit Sharma who is desperate to prove a point and keep his place.”India’s ODI series in England is already attracting huge interest, and Swann expects Rohit and Kohli to remain in the spotlight.“Yes, it will be a huge game. Anytime England play India, it is a huge series, especially recently.“And with all the nonsense going on in England as well, I think they would really appreciate a little bit of the spotlight on the actual cricket rather than the off-field stuff.”When asked which of India’s veteran stars will come under greater scrutiny heading into the series and the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, Swann highlighted Kohli’s outstanding IPL campaign. The 37-year-old hit 675 runs in 16 matches during IPL 2026, cementing his place as one of the best batsmen in the world.At the same time, Swann rejected suggestions that the England series should be seen as a litmus test for India’s top stars ahead of the next World Cup.“From an English point of view, England will hope that Virat and Rohit will deviate from the upcoming World Cup and not think about it as it will affect the performance.“India has to make sure they don’t get sidetracked by that. But that’s Rohit and Virat. They know what they’re doing and they’ll go there.“It should be, touch wood, it should be dry and the ball shouldn’t be doing too much at that time.“The white ball tends to be easier to hit than the red ball in England.
“So the batting conditions could be very good for both of them, which does not bode well for England.”The conversation also turned to the player who many consider to be the future of Indian cricket. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of making his international debut after receiving a call-up for India’s T20I tour of Ireland and England following his exceptional season in the IPL.Swan admitted that he was deeply impressed by the teenager’s rapid development.“Yes, he is a special talent. As I said before, I don’t want to attack him.“He is at that age where he is absolutely fearless because he has never experienced failure.
Which player do you think poses the biggest threat to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s positions in the team?
“But, you know, having done well before and big runs in the Under-19s, going to the ISL and people saying, you know, after he made a few starts and then you remember people threw the ball in and said: ‘Oh, we’ve got him.’“You can’t do that over and over again against world-class bowlers.“But it got better and better as the Indian Premier League went on.“And those two couples in the 90s in the playoffs, they were ridiculous.“I was there for one of them, the one in Chandigarh. It was the most audacious strike from a 15-year-old.“He’s world class and I’m glad I won’t be playing anymore.”