With the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup still more than a year away, discussions over India’s likely squad have already gathered momentum. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared his preferred 15-member squad for the tournament, making a few bold selections that have sparked debate among cricket fans and experts alike.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October-November 2027. While India’s top-order appears relatively settled, questions remain over the middle order, wicketkeeping options and the pace attack.
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Former India batter and commentator Aakash Chopra reviewed Shastri’s squad on his YouTube channel, calling it a “hatke” team while giving it an 8 out of 10 rating.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Batters | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| Wicketkeepers | KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant |
| All-rounders | Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar |
| Spinners | Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav |
| Fast Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
Shastri backed Shubman Gill to lead India while retaining experienced campaigners Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the batting unit. One of the biggest talking points, however, was the inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has played only a handful of ODIs despite scoring two centuries in the format.
Chopra said Jaiswal’s selection was an interesting call, especially considering the competition at the top of the order. He also questioned the inclusion of Rishabh Pant alongside KL Rahul, pointing out that Pant has not received a consistent run in ODI cricket in recent years.
The former opener added that current form and team management preferences could make Pant’s place difficult, particularly with Ishan Kishan emerging as a strong contender in limited-overs cricket.
Shastri also opted for two experienced left-arm spin all-rounders—Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel—alongside Kuldeep Yadav. Chopra felt that combination made sense, given their experience and ability to contribute in multiple departments.
The pace attack includes Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who Chopra described as automatic selections. However, he was surprised to see both Mohammed Shami and veteran swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar included in the squad.
Calling it a “true Mumbaiya-style hatke team”, Chopra said Bhuvneshwar deserves regular opportunities in white-ball cricket but admitted that having both him and Shami in the same squad was an unexpected choice.
Despite appreciating most of the selections, Chopra believes the final World Cup squad is unlikely to mirror Shastri’s prediction. He pointed out that the team lacks a specialist left-arm fast bowler, something India could consider essential before the marquee event.
Overall, Chopra rated the squad 8/10, saying it is an exciting combination but one that may undergo significant changes before the 2027 World Cup begins.
