Home
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed his predicted 15-member squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, and while several expected names feature in his lineup, one inclusion has left fans talking, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
ADVERTISEMENT
Shastri's selection comes in the aftermath of India's disappointing 2-1 ODI series defeat to England, a result that sparked fresh debates over the team's ideal combination heading into the next 50-over World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Backing Shubman Gill as captain, Shastri has also retained faith in experienced campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while throwing his support behind Bhuvneshwar despite the veteran pacer being away from international cricket for an extended period.
Also Read: BCCI hikes Team India title sponsorship reserve price by over 15%, here's new per-match fee
Ravi Shastri backs experience for World Cup success
Sharing his views on Sportstak, Shastri admitted that India's defeat against England came as a surprise but insisted that the team possesses enough quality to bounce back.
"The result was very surprising and shocking, honestly. But if you look at this Indian team, they have immense talent, they have quality players, and you just need to get the right balance and the right combination," Shastri said.
Rather than opting for a complete overhaul, the former India all-rounder chose to trust players who have already delivered on the biggest stage.
Out of his 15 selections, 11 players featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India finished runners-up, underlining Shastri's belief that experience remains invaluable in global tournaments.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion grabs attention
The biggest talking point from Shastri's predicted squad is undoubtedly the inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The experienced swing bowler has not featured for India in international cricket for a considerable period, yet Shastri believes his ability to move the new ball and vast experience in pressure situations could still make him an asset in the 2027 World Cup.
His selection reflects Shastri's preference for proven performers rather than taking a gamble on relatively inexperienced pacers in a tournament as demanding as the World Cup.
Blend of experience and youth
While Shastri has largely relied on experienced names, he has also found room for emerging talents.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh are the only players in his squad who have not previously featured in an ODI World Cup.
The trio represents the younger core Shastri believes can complement India's established stars, creating a balanced squad capable of competing for the title.
With more than two years remaining before the tournament begins, India will have several bilateral assignments to finalise combinations, but Shastri's squad offers an interesting blueprint of how he believes the Men in Blue should approach the next World Cup.
Ravi Shastri's predicted India squad for ODI World Cup 2027:
Shubman Gill (Captain)
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Rishabh Pant
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Axar Patel
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Siraj
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kuldeep Yadav
Also Read: Abhishek Sharma just 16 runs away from joining Virat Kohli in exclusive T20 club
The ICC ODI World Cup 2027 is scheduled to be played across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia during October and November 2027. While India's final squad remains a long way from being decided, Ravi Shastri's selections have already ignited discussions, particularly over whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar can script an unlikely return to the biggest stage in one-day cricket.
ADVERTISEMENT
