Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 15: Former England spinner Graeme Swann believes the scrutiny surrounding Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is a natural consequence of their long and successful careers, with discussions about their eventual successors bound to intensify as younger talents emerge.
Rohit and Kohli have remained at the centre of succession debates ever since they retired from Test cricket and committed themselves to India's ODI plans leading up to the 2027 World Cup. With both veterans now playing limited cricket outside international fixtures, every performance continues to attract close attention.
Speaking ahead of India’s ODI tour of England in July, Swann said speculation about replacements is inevitable for players entering the latter stages of their careers.
“I think it's inevitable with any player when you come to the latter stage of your career that people naturally start looking for your successor, no matter how well you do,” Swann said.
“Even if you're at the top of your game, people are asking who will be the next Virat or the next Rohit. The second you have one or two low scores, everyone starts looking over your shoulder to see who's next in line,” he added.
Swann’s remarks come amid growing excitement around teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who enjoyed a record-breaking IPL 2026 season, scoring 776 runs and winning five individual awards. The 15-year-old is widely regarded as one of India’s brightest prospects and could become the country’s youngest international debutant during the upcoming tour of Ireland.
According to Swann, the rise of young talents such as Sooryavanshi inevitably increases pressure on established stars, particularly those occupying key positions in the batting order.
“Sooryavanshi and some of the youngsters coming through put even more onus on the guys at the top of the order for India,” he said.
The former England spinner believes the next few weeks could be particularly significant for Rohit Sharma as India seek to strike a balance between experienced campaigners and emerging players.
“It’s a huge six weeks for Rohit. But in the IPL he looked in great touch and is still one of the best players around. If I was an English bowler, I wouldn't want to bowl to a Rohit Sharma who is desperate to prove a point and keep his place,” Swann remarked.
However, he stopped short of describing the England ODI series as a make-or-break assignment for Rohit and Kohli ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Swann said both players possess enough experience to remain focused on the present rather than becoming distracted by discussions surrounding the tournament.
“India have got to make sure they’re not sidetracked by the World Cup. But this is Rohit and Virat. They know what they're doing,” he said.
He also suggested that English conditions during the white-ball series could favour batting, making life difficult for the home bowlers.
“The white ball tends to be easier to bat against than the red ball in England. It could be very good batting conditions for both of them, which doesn't augur very well for England,” Swann added.
With India preparing for a crucial phase of ODI cricket ahead of the 2027 World Cup, performances by Rohit and Kohli are expected to remain under the spotlight even as the next generation waits in the wings.