former indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif Defended Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli While re-examining their future, he said it was a mistake for India to focus on replacing experienced players with youngsters just because they can hit sixes. In Rohit and Kohli India suffered a disappointing return in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Although India won, neither the senior batsmen played a role in the chase. Returning to international cricket, Rohit struck 11 off 21 balls before being dismissed by Sam Curran. Jofra Archer Trapped Kohli lbw for just five bucks. However, the result marked a positive turn for the Indian team, which went into the ODI series after beating Ireland 0-2 in the T20I series and England 0-4 in the T20I series. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Kaif said successful teams are built on the right balance between youth and experience, rather than being obsessed with bringing in young players. “A wrong trend is happening, the core principle is to bring in youth because they hit sixes. But a good and successful team is a combination of youth and experience,” Kraft said. The former batsman also mentioned the football icon cristiano ronaldo and Lionel MessiDespite being nearly 40 years old, both men continue to represent their countries. “If you look at Ronaldo and Messi, they are around 40 years old and still playing for their country in a fast-paced game. If they are fit and have the skills, then why are we so behind in cricket?” Kaif asked. Rohit is under increasing pressure after a poor showing in the 50-over format. The Indian skipper scored just a half-century in 7 ODI innings in 2026; Yashasvi Jaiswal His point has been borne out by two centuries in his last three ODI appearances. With Jaiswal waiting in the wings, the remainder of the England series could have a major impact on India’s long-term starting combination, although Kaif has urged selectors to focus on experience and youth.
