2 min readUpdated: Jul 24, 2026 01:07 PM IST England may have ended India’s ODI series on a high, but for AB de Villiers, the bigger picture is what matters. The former South Africa captain has backed Rohit Sharma to play a key role in India’s 2027 World Cup plans, even as he acknowledged the opener’s long-standing inconsistency. After a T20 series that saw England whitewash India and a 2-1 ODI series defeat, de Villiers was quick to point out the difference the veterans made when they were on the field. “You can see the difference that Virat and Rohit make in the team and the kind of belief they bring back into the side,” he said. Rohit had struggled in the first two ODIs, scoring 11 and 26, before answering his critics with a magnificent 138 off 110 balls in the final match at Lord’s. Chasing 388, India fell short by 27 runs, but Rohit’s knock, along with Virat Kohli’s 74, gave the chase a realistic shot. “He’s never been the most consistent player …