India, Dec. 7 -- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were the driving forces behind India's surge, helping the team win three of their last four ODIs, including a 2-1 series victory at home against South Africa. Their flurry of half-centuries not only reaffirmed their status as ODI greats but also quietened the chatter around their international futures, talk that many experts now insist was never in doubt. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir hasn't shifted his stance. He reiterated his World Cup message and stressed that young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad must make the most of their opportunities in the lead-up to the ICC tournament two years from now.

Kohli and Rohit returned to competitive action in October in the tour of...