India finished runners-up in the 2023 World Cup at home. The next 50-over World Cup is scheduled to take place in southern Africa in 2027. Here, five Wisden India writers have a stab at predicting India’s squad for the showpiece event.
After comfortably surviving the league matches of the 2023 World Cup, India bowed out to the mighty Australian side in the 2023 World Cup finals and extended their bid for the ICC Trophy.
While India’s World Cup squad had a good mix of young and experienced players, some changes will almost certainly be needed for the next World Cup.
Abhishek Mukherjee, Wisden India Head of Content
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar , Prasidh Krishna
Although he is 35 years old, fitness has never been an issue for Virat Kohli. Perhaps there will be a last dance and an attempt to complete the unfinished business of 2023. He is likely to be part of some of the 2023 group, but Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma and Rinku Singh could also break through.
Even if everyone stays healthy, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to be out of the format by 2027. Axar Patel and Prasidh Krishna would have been promoted by then. Rishabh Pant should also be back wearing the big gloves.
Of course, there may be some cricketers in the team that the public hasn’t noticed yet, but let’s stop speculating at this point.
Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (c), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar , Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Rinku Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna xss=removed>
The biggest absence is Kohli. The coach said Kohli will not stay in the format for another four years and 2023 will be his best season. Gaikwad, Gill and Jaiswal will be fighting for the top three positions, followed by Iyer and Rahul. Pant should be there, but his role will depend on how he returns and what the Indian management plans for him.
The big advantage of this spin attack is that both Axar and Sander are also capable hitters. With Jaiswal also capable of bowling a few overs, India will likely have more all-rounders than they did in 2023. Rinku has already achieved an unusual average of nearly 50 points in List A, and is likely to emerge as a white-ball player. A winner for the next few years. xss=removed>
Krishna and Mukesh will lead the pace attack along with vice-captain Bumrah and Siraj.
Naman Agarwal, Wisden India staff writer
Rohit Sharma will be 36 years old and Virat Kohli will be 35 years old at the end of the 2023 World Cup, so it is unlikely that they will be around until 2027. India’s batting reserves have enough top-notch pedigree to replace them.
The mid-order trio of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant should continue. Tilak Verma and Rinku Singh may compete for the additional middle-order batsman spot, but Tilak’s bowling skills will give him an edge.
In the bowling department, Ravindra Jadeja (35), Ravichandran Ashwin (37) and Mohammed Shami (33) may not be available for the next World Cup. The first two can be replaced by Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Finding a replacement for Shami will be even more difficult. However, given the current crop of fast bowlers that India has invested in, Mukesh Kumar seems most likely to succeed.
Shubham Pandey, Wisden India social media manager
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Nishant Sandhu, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (wk) . , Rinku Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar
The 2027 ODI World Cup is just four years away. I personally think India should keep their ODI core with Shreyas Iyer leading the team. India needs to focus on developing young all-rounders like Nishant Sindhu and Rajvardhan Hangargekar for the South African mega event as they have been struggling to develop all-rounders recently.
The bowling department seems more or less stable with Jasprit Bumrah leading India’s attack along with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Mukesh Kumar. Many may disagree with me but I would choose Rishabh Pan over KL Rahul as the primary wicketkeeper. For me, Pant is a game changer and can change the course of a game within a few overs. He can attack opponents from the first pitch.
Atri Sanfui, Wisden India staff writer
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Rishabh Pant is likely to fill the void left by the aging Rohit Sharma at the top with his innovative batting and combative approach, which are essential in the modern game. With Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul safe and Rinku Singh also in the squad, there is no need to rejig the middle order.
Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel are all-rounders while Kuldeep Yadav is likely to partner Ravi Bishnoi as a specialist spinner.
It would be a distant dream to expect 33-year-old Mohamed Shami to make it to another World Cup. That means the iconic pace cartel of him, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj is likely to disband to suit Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. Arshdeep Singh is the latest recruit.
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