Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9 -- Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stirred up a fresh round of cricketing debate by strongly endorsing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma while making what appeared to be a subtle remark aimed at India head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Afridi openly asserted that India's veteran batting duo remains essential to the country's ODI setup and should not be overlooked in long-term planning, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight.

Afridi's comments arrived amid ongoing discussions about India's future batting direction. He believes that the team should continue to rely on Kohli and Rohit, as their experience, form and fitness still place them at the heart of the Indian lineup. This perspective counters the growin...