Harbhajan says performance must trump age for Kohli and Rohit

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has said Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be allowed to continue their ODI careers and target next year’s World Cup if they retain the desire and fitness to do so, insisting performance rather than age must determine their place in the team.

Speaking to PTI, the 46-year-old former off-spinner weighed in on the ongoing discussion over the future of the two Indian veterans, who are now playing only one format. Harbhajan also revealed that his autobiography is complete and is likely to be released later this year.

Messi comparison for longevity

Harbhajan drew a comparison with Lionel Messi while making the case for Rohit and Kohli. Messi, at 39, led Argentina to the final of the recent football World Cup, producing moments of individual brilliance throughout the tournament.

"Whoever the player is, I believe the marker should be performance, not age," Harbhajan said. Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 39 when the 2027 ODI World Cup is played in South Africa.

"Virat may be 39 but if he is still beating those 20-year-old guys on the field, it (his age) doesn't matter. Look at Lionel Messi. At 40 (39), five men fail to stop him. If a player has that kind of fitness and skill where even five opponents can't keep him at bay, then we know that skill always takes precedence," he reasoned.

Experience over raw power

Harbhajan said the expectations surrounding Kohli and Rohit would be significantly greater than those on an inexperienced player such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, even though the teenager has already shown the ability to attack international bowlers.

"If I were the coach, my job would be to give them the platform as my expectations from Rohit and Virat would be much higher than what I expect from a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. These two have that experience. They have experience of 300 games which Sooryavanshi won't have. Yes, a Sooryavanshi can walk in and blast bowlers but Virat and Rohit have the experience," he explained.

Kohli’s winning culture and fitness revolution

Harbhajan credited Kohli with changing India's approach towards winning, particularly during his time as captain from 2014-15 onwards.

"This change was first brought in by Virat Kohli when he became the captain in 2014-15. Before that we won't think that we can go for a chase of 400 on the final day. Virat told the boys, 'let's at least try. We might lose but if we keep trying one day we will surpass that 400 plus in last innings.' 'If we have to get 10 wickets on last day, we will go for it. The winning mentality and not settle for draw is what Virat Kohli got," he remembered.

"But his biggest contribution was bringing in fitness culture. 90 per cent credit for creating the fitness revolution goes to Kohli. My idea of fitness was endurance but Virat made this team believe that if you are fit, you can fly around," Harbhajan pointed out.

Fitness as the ultimate filter

The former spinner, who finished his international career with 416 Test wickets and 269 ODI wickets, maintained that fitness and performances should ultimately decide whether the veteran duo remain in contention.

"Fitness is a priority, and your performance matters. Performance is the ultimate criterion. So if these two score runs and can match the fitness of a Shreyas or a Yashasvi, then nothing else matters," Harbhajan declared.

"Rohit and Virat will get their answer from within. You realise when you have reached that phase where you need to call time," he added.

Harbhajan officially announced his retirement in December 2021, although his last Test appearance had come much earlier, in 2015 at Galle.