@BBC

Harbhajan Singh isn't buying into the Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma 2027 World Cup hype. The former spinner thinks their reduced cricket schedule spells trouble.

"It's too far, actually. It's been a very long time, and they are not playing any other formats," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. "It becomes very difficult for anyone, no matter how much commitment you have or how big a great you are. If you do not play the game continuously, somewhere the game moves ahead and you are left behind."

Both players walked away from T20Is after India's 2024 T20 World Cup win. They also quit Tests before the England tour. That leaves just ODIs and IPL cricket.

Harbhajan used MS Dhoni as his example. "We have seen MS Dhoni playing in the IPL. Look at his performance in the last three years. You see the difference between this Dhoni and the Dhoni from six years ago when he was playing for India consistently."

The numbers tell a story. India plays nine ODIs until January 2026. The Bangladesh tour got cancelled over political issues. Total ODIs before 2027? Around 27 matches.

Rohit turns 40 in April 2027. The World Cup starts in October across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. That's tight timing for any player.

"I feel that if anything is left for him to achieve is the 50-over World Cup," Harbhajan told . "He would probably want to win but there is still two and a half years for that. That is way too far, he will have to see where his fitness is going, where his hunger is going."

The Champions Trophy in March showed both can still play. Kohli hit an unbeaten century against Pakistan. Rohit scored 76 in the final against New Zealand. Form isn't the issue yet.

Rohit stayed non-committal about 2027. "It is very hard to say that right now," he told ICC after the Champions Trophy. "I want to see how well I am playing. Right now, I am playing really, really well, and I am enjoying everything I'm doing with this team... I cannot really say 2027, because it is too far, but I am keeping all my options open."

The missing piece? Rohit's never won an ODI World Cup. India reached the 2023 final but lost to Australia. Kohli was part of the 2011 winning team under Dhoni.

IPL 2025 started March 22. Rohit captains Mumbai Indians, Kohli plays for RCB. Their performances there matter more now than before.

Three ODI series are coming up. Australia later this year, then South Africa and New Zealand. Those games will show if they can handle international cricket with limited preparation.

Here's the thing about cricket - momentum matters. Playing once every few months isn't the same as regular international cricket. Reflexes slow down. Match awareness gets rusty. Younger players improve while veterans stay static.

Dhoni's IPL stats prove Harbhajan's point. The wicketkeeper-batsman looked different in his final India years compared to his peak. Limited cricket exposure shows up in performance metrics.

Age isn't just a number in professional sport. Recovery takes longer. Fitness becomes harder to maintain. Mental sharpness can fade without constant competitive pressure.

Both players have options. They could focus on IPL success and financial security. Or push for 2027 knowing the risks of failure. The choice shapes their legacy.

Team selection adds another layer. India won't pick players based on past achievements. Current form decides World Cup squads. Limited opportunities mean each ODI becomes crucial.

The 2027 World Cup represents different things for each player. Rohit needs it to complete his trophy collection. Kohli already has that achievement but wants another title.

Harbhajan's warning makes sense from a cricketing perspective. Modern cricket demands rhythm. Format specialization has downsides. Players can't just switch on international mode after months away.

Time will tell if experience beats preparation. Kohli and Rohit have two years to prove Harbhajan wrong.