India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad: Probables and contenders ranked for ICC tournament originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The squad is largely established but the next 12-15 months could potentially bring a couple of major changes in the ODI setup.
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Here are Cricket News’ leading probables and contenders currently in the race for India’s 15-man squad.
India’s road to the 2027 ODI World Cup is beginning to take shape, but plenty can still change before the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
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With Shubman Gill now at the centre of India’s ODI plans. Cricket News takes a look at India’s strongest probables, who still have work to do and ranks the leading contenders for the 15-man squad.
India’s selection in batting could appear mostly straightforward, but decisions and recent reports on experienced stars such as Virat Kohli and, particularly, Rohit Sharma have created an opening for debates.
Shubman Gill appears to be the strongest near-certain selection for India’s 2027 World Cup plans as the ODI captain. He is also expected to continue opening the batting.
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Gill is the most in-form batter in the Indian side. In ODIs since 2025, the Indian skipper has scored 1051 runs at an average of 65.68. His only major failure was the ODI tour of Australia in late 2025 where he managed just 43 runs in three innings.
2027 WC status: 99%
Virat Kohli’s inclusion may not be as certain as Gill’s, given ODIs are now the only international format the 37-year-old plays, but his recent performances and fitness suggest he remains firmly in India’s plans at No. 3.
Since 2025, Kohli is second only to Gill in terms of form among Indian batters, scoring 1035 runs at 64.68 average in 19 innings. The Indian talisman batter began the 2025 Australia tour with back-to-back ducks but managed to end the series with an unbeaten 74.
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Immediately following that tour, Kohli smashed two centuries and a fifty against South Africa. There is no question over what Kohli brings to a major tournament and he should remain firmly among India’s leading World Cup probables.
2027 WC status: 92%
KL Rahul’s versatility could make him one of the more valuable players in India’s potential World Cup setup. He can provide flexibility in the middle order coupled with wicketkeeping cover, potentially allowing the selectors to build a more balanced squad.
With 561 runs at over 110 strike-rate and 51 average in ODIs since 2025, Rahul is a reliable batter and should make the 15-man squad. However, the wicketkeeping competition means his role cannot be taken for granted.
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2027 WC status: 90%
Shreyas Iyer remains one of India’s leading middle-order options (at No.4) in ODI cricket.
His experience and ability to orchestrate the middle-order batting give him a strong case. All points to the fact that he is viewed as a key part of India’s preferred XI.
However, competition for middle-order places will be intense as the likes of Tilak Varma continue to emerge.
2027 WC status: 87%
Ishan Kishan was back in the 2027 World Cup conversation once again after making a comeback in June 2026 during the Afghanistan series. The southpaw smashed 159 runs in three innings, including a century, in that series but managed just 15 runs in two innings during the England tour.
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As a wicketkeeper-batter capable of offering an aggressive option, he gives India a profile different from Rahul’s. While he is likely to make the squad, he falls short of a spot in the playing XI during a direct battle with Rahul.
There are also concerns about how the southpaw will fare, especially in bouncy, fast-bowler-friendly conditions away from home in South Africa.
2027 WC status: 85%
Rohit Sharma is impossible to ignore when discussing India’s 2027 World Cup squad.
Reports and speculation about Rohit’s ODI future and fitness at 40 may have increased uncertainty about his position. However, his experience and value as an opening batter mean he cannot yet be ruled out of India’s 2027 World Cup plans.
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There were reports during the England tour that BCCI selectors had decided to move on from Rohit. Speculation was constant about whether he would retire following the series, but the veteran remains in the plans; however, he is not an automatic selection given the rumours over the past few months.
2027 WC status: 75%
Tilak Varma remains one of the younger batters capable of forcing his way into the World Cup conversation.
An August 2026 report quoted by the Times of India claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill felt a lack of backup options in 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 reportedly said.
‘The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia, and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late.”
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“The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready,” the source added.
Varma provides a balanced left-hander and potentially a part-time off-spin option to the team, which makes him a late contender and given evidence about Gambhir’s preference for all-rounders, the MI star certainly has his case ready.
2027 WC status: 70%
It’s a shame Yashasvi Jaiswal has not had more opportunities in ODI cricket, as he has the potential to become a long-term opening option for India.
As a left-hander with a balanced-aggressive approach, Jaiswal offers variety in the top order, but with the likes of Rohit and Gill already occupying the opening spot, his chances have been limited.
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Jaiswal could be one of the biggest beneficiaries if India decides to transition away from Rohit before the World Cup. A left-handed opening partnership involving Jaiswal and Gill would give India a significantly different top-order combination.
If that’s the case, Jaiswal needs a consistent run in ODI cricket over the next 15 months. Currently, he might fall short of the 15-man squad with Tilak’s late emergence as a part-timer, while Kishan could fill the backup opener role if needed.
2027 WC status: 60%
Currently, Rishabh Pant has no case for a return to the ODI setup. However, he remains an option if the need for a wicket-keeper arises alongside the likes of Dhruv Jurel.
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Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan has the talent to cement his spot in India’s ODI side in the future but it’s likely to only happen in an era post-Kohli.
Ruturaj Gaikwad briefly impressed at No. 4 during Iyer’s absence, but given the number of options in batting, the CSK captain is only an outside contender – an unlikely option to be clearer.
The all-rounder group will ultimately determine the balance of India’s 2027 World Cup squad. India will need to decide how much batting depth they want without compromising on their bowling.
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Hardik Pandya is India’s most valuable all-rounder without a doubt, especially when it comes to high-stakes ICC tournaments.
He offers flexibility that other players have failed to fill during his absence and his availability will decide how the rest of the XI is constructed.
His fitness and bowling workload remain concerns at this point and if he is available, Pandya will need to fill both the batting and bowling roles.
2027 WC status: 95% (provided he passes bowling fitness)
Axar Patel has lately made a huge upgrade in his batting. He has scored two half-centuries in ODIs since 2025 – the same as Rahul and provides added depth to the lineup.
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Left-arm spin remains his primary role and his selection in the XI will depend on the competition with other potential spin-all-rounders in the lineup. However, a spot in the 15-man squad should be a certainity.
2027 WC status: 92%
(getty)
Washington Sundar offers India another flexible spin-bowling option like Patel but as an off-spinner.
Sundar has also displayed his potential with the bat, but he has not established consistency and reliability to be a player who cannot be dropped. That said, he should find a spot in the squad.
2027 WC status: 90%
Nitish Kumar Reddy was set to be one of India’s most interesting long-term all-round options. However, he’s been sidelined in recent series due to injury,
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Reddy could be a decent backup option for Pandya as a seam-bowling all-rounder but he has a long way to go to establish himself in ODI cricket.
2027 WC status: 80%
Ravindra Jadeja’s experience and proven all-round ability mean he cannot be completely ruled out at this stage.
However, the 2027 tournament is still far enough away. Reports this year have suggested Jadeja may not be a certainty anymore, with Patel being touted as the main spin all-rounder, with Sundar as a potential backup.
2027 WC status: 45%
Shivam Dube and Harsh Dubey are among the players who could strengthen their cases, although their status remains “unlikely” currently.
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India’s bowling attack could undergo some changes before the 2027 World Cup. While some established names remain difficult to overlook, younger fast bowlers have opportunities to force their way into the setup.
Jasprit Bumrah would be among the first names considered if he remains fit and available for the tournament.
Powerplay, Middle overs. Death. Bumrah can be Gill’s go-to man. However, workload management will remain a factor, making fitness the obvious condition attached to his selection.
If that is cleared, he would be the most certain selection among all players, both for the squad and the playing XI.
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2027 WC status: 99%
Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm pace provides India with valuable variation. Like Bumrah, he can be a reliable option both in the powerplay and death-over phases.
2027 WC status: 90%
