Ravi Shastri picks Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India's predicted squad for 2027 World Cup

Ravi Shastri has named his 15-member squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, backing Shubman Gill as captain and retaining faith in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to anchor India's batting during the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The selection comes after England beat India 2-1 in a recent ODI series, a result that prompted Shastri to outline his preferred team composition for the global event.

The Men in Blue recently suffered a shock ODI series defeat in England, losing 2-1. Of the 15 players the former India head coach picked, eleven featured in the 2023 edition of the tournament, where India finished as runners-up, indicating how Shastri saw experienced players playing a big part in India's World Cup effort.

"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," the erstwhile India all-rounder said during a discussion on Sportstak.

Shastri outlined his thinking behind selecting a squad that balances proven match-winners with emerging talent ready for the grandest stage.

Shastri's selections reflect a deliberate strategy after the recent England series. Amid constant experimentation and player shuffling by the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian management, Shastri opted to go with experience for the 2027 World Cup, with his selection suggesting a clear preference for proven match-winners and seasoned campaigners over players still establishing themselves in the ODI format. The inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar drew particular attention, as the veteran fast bowler has been absent from international cricket for an extended period yet retains Shastri's confidence in his swing bowling and experience for major tournaments.

Only Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh have not played an ODI World Cup earlier, with their addition indicating that Shastri wants a team that combines experience and stability with promising, in-form cricketers. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 is scheduled to be played in October-November 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with India having recently lost their ODI series against England 2-1. With more than two years until the tournament, India will have multiple opportunities to test combinations and refine their final squad before the World Cup begins.

Ravi Shastri’s predicted squad for 2027 ODI World Cup:

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 and Kuldeep Yadav