Records. Performances . Achievements. But most importantly, longevity; it’s the ability to forge a long and meaningful career where it comes to the sporting domain that makes sports talents carve a niche of their own. A journey that paintstakigly endures the challenges and battles the odds to come up against the opponents and leave behind a lasting legacy! Perhaps that in itself is the most significant feat that a cricketer, to speak specifically, can achieve. Because runs can be scored and wickets can be taken by just about anyone who possesses a modicum of talent. But the ability to beat the odds time and again and forge a long career is something that isn’t necessarily everyone’s strength.

But two cricketers in the modern or contemporary era that have done that and come such a long way happen to be to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both former captains. Both incredible performers. And both keenly in search of their next, even if, seemingly humongous goal in sight- which is to capture the forthcoming 2027 Men’s odi World Cup which is to take place in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

And perhaps given this is not just their own aim but that of Team India itself that former Indian cricketer and current Hindi commutator and expert Mohd Kaif has urged both outstanding legends of the game to continue undeterred- as they so admirably have thus far- on the path of continuity.

And truth be told, one of the most amazing fielders that world cricket ever saw is nowhere off the mark when he recently suggested that perhaps someone that stands as a symbol of relevance and practicality at this stage where both Kohli and Rohit are happens to be none other than Lionel Messi.

At 39 years of age, the Argentine great is still persevering hard and still pushing hard to the path of conquering what will clearly be his greatest achievement - hopefully bagging yet another FIFA World Cup title.

It was back in 2022, when as a 35-year-old Lionel Messi helped Argentina pick their World Cup. That was different back then. The venue was Qatar. A country no experienced or rising footballer had ever played at.

But what does one see four years down the line?

Much like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have neither lost their passion or hunger to succeed, Lionel Messi is still very much around and is still going strong.

And perhaps that is where the inspiration lies for two of India’s greatest cricketers in the present era or as one would say, in the post-Sachin Tendulkar era.

Mohd Kaif arguably realises the importance that these two great servants of Indian cricket bring to the present day scenario where the team’s talent pool is decked with one incredible young performer after another.

There’s the likes of the daunting captain Shubman Gill, the experienced KL Rahul and the dependable Shreyas Iyer alongside young guns in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and the others.

But the relevance of Kohli and Rohit is simply redoubtable; in that the two exceptionally gifted and big match players are still very much relevant and must be allowed to continue to perform and continue to find their own place within the contours of Indian Cricket.

The team still very relies on their ability to turn the fate of a contest in the favour of their country .

These are proven match winners who besides being major crowd pullers still evoke a sense of threat where it comes to India’s opponents at the biggest stage. A team with Rohit and Virat can’t and won’t be taken lightly by India’s opponents.

Their experience will certainly come handy as far as India’s title hopes for the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup are conceded