Tilak Varma in plans for ODI World Cup 2027? Report claims selectors want backups as fielding his suffering

The Indian team management and selectors are working on building up bench strength for the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa. As per a report by TOI, Tilak Varma is being looked at as a backup for Shreyas Iyer in the middle order. 

Unlike the T20I team, the ODI side has plenty of right-handed batters. In addition, India don't have a fast-bowling all-rounder who is fit currently. Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy are working on their fitness. In the meantime, Varma has been asked to fine tune his off-spin.

ALSO READ: 'I smiled after spotting my name isn't there': Suryakumar Yadav recalls 1st reaction after getting sacked as T20I captain

The team management does not want to put pressure on the lower-middle order if India lose early wickets. The picture will be a lot clearer in October when India tour New Zealand for all-format series. In the upcoming ODI series against West Indies at home, several ODI players will be unavailable as they will be playing in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.

ALSO READ: Women's Asia Cup: Sri Lanka kick off title defense with crushing 9-wicket win over UAE

“Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn’t any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy being prone to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI,” a BCCI source said.

The Varma experiment may be seen in New Zealand. Earlier this year, Ishan Kishan was sent ahead of Iyer as he is a left-handed batter. So far, the team management has also relied on Washington Sundar or Axar Patel to play the role.

Why Varma is ahead of Gaikwad, Padikkal?

Before Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad was ahead in the pecking order but the latter is reportedly not being considered as the selectors don't want a batter batting out of position. Gaikwad had scored a century in the absence of an injured Iyer. he was also picked as backup for an injured Gill. 

Also, Devdutt Padikkal is not being considered for maiden white-ball call-up as he opens the batting in domestic One-Day cricket. Padikkal averages 82.23 in List A cricket and awaits a chance in ODIs.

Varma’s ODI & List A record

The 23-year-old Varma has played five ODIs so far and scored 68 runs from four innings, including a half-century against South Africa in 2023. His previous ODI appearance was against South Africa last year. He bowled three overs and conceded 29 runs. 

Varma was India A's captain on the Sri Lanka tour. Varma was India's highest run-scorer, just one run ahead of Gaikwad. From five innings, he scored 275 runs at an average of 55 including four half-centuries.

Varma averages 47.60 in List A cricket, scoring 2,142 runs from 50 innings, including six centuries and 14 fifties. With the ball, he has 11 wickets at an average of 38.81. He picked up a four-fer against Haryana in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22 clash. 

T20I squad to be picked next week

Meanwhile, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is set to pick the T20I squad on September 3 for three-T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi. It is not clear whether Pandya, Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy will be part of the series. Chakaravarthy has regained full fitness after he was ruled out of Zimbabwe T20I series.