“Call them back to Tests as you are losing badly” - Former India batter’s blunt statement to Gautam Gambhir & Co. after IND vs SA 2025 1st ODI

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif gave a blunt statement after the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. The hosts won by 17 runs. Kaif reacted to reports about a meeting to be held by the BCCI on stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future in ODIs after the South Africa series.

The two legends retired from T20Is and Tests and are playing only one format for India. Following the humiliating 0-2 Test series defeat to South Africa at home, Kaif hoped that Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and the management would ask Kohli and Rohit to reverse their retirements from Test cricket.

While there have been questions about their spots for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kaif reckoned that no discussion was needed, as both batters have been scoring runs.

"I hope they get some sense and ask whether these two can come back in Tests in whatever review meeting may happen. What do you have to discuss about the future? Both are scoring hundreds. Call them back to the Tests as you are losing badly. You need to have seniors in the team. Of course, I don't think they will both change their decision. BCCI can think what has happened has happened but can these two return? Think about this. Not about wanting to go with new guys for the World Cup. These two deserve to be there," he said on his YouTube channel.

Notably, South Africa Coach Shukri Conrad had made a controversial statement during the second Test against India, where he said that the visitors wanted the hosts to 'grovel'. Kaif reflected that Conrad would not have dared to make such a statement had Kohli and Rohit still been in the Test team. He highlighted how the two seniors brought energy into the team on the field, which was lacking during the Test series.

"It was evident that if Virat and Rohit were still playing Tests, the South African coach would not have made the grovel statement. Their presence on the field is enough. When they came back in ODIs, look at how much energy there was on the field. Keep the runs aside, but the energy they bring to the whole team; these two playing only one format is a loss for the youngsters, as there is so much to learn. Their coach had the confidence that they would beat us, so he made such a statement. He would not have dared to had these two been there."

Kohli slammed a 120-ball 135 in the first ODI while Rohit made a vital 51-ball 57. Both batters showcased their importance to the team with their brilliant batting.

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Mohammad Kaif feels India cannot win the 2027 ODI World Cup without Kohli and Rohit

Further, Mohammad Kaif reflected that India would not win the 2027 ODI World Cup without Kohli and Rohit. He highlighted how the hosts got to 349 due to Kohli's century and Rohit's half-century, as the youngsters in the team could not make big runs.

He also recalled how the duo helped India win the final ODI of the recent three-match series in Australia and avoid a whitewash, having lost the first two matches.

"We all have understood that this Indian team cannot win the 2027 World Cup without Rohit and Virat. Take this in writing. We have been talking about this, the fans have been telling this. It is no secret. We would have been whitewashed in the Australia ODIs, but we won one match because of these two. They saved us there, and they saved us here, too. What did the youngsters do here? It was a good batting wicket, right? You needed experience here too," he said.

He even praised Kohli for his exceptional batting while he scored a match-winning ton. Kaif explained what differentiated the likes of Kohli and Rohit from others and made them big players. Kohli got out on consecutive ducks in the first two ODIs in Australia but scored an unbeaten fifty in the final game. He carried the momentum into the first match here against South Africa and struck an attacking century.

"Kohli was not in good form in Australia. Then he took time in the final ODI. He does that. A big player does not play at one tempo all the time. Even Rohit had taken time in the second ODI there, but when he hit a hundred in the third, he played quick. Virat did the same thing. Once he got the runs in Australia, the confidence came, and you saw a quick and attacking knock here."

India will aim to seal the three-match series in the second ODI that will take place on December 3 in Raipur.