There is much intrigue surrounding how the Indian cricket squad will shape up for the 2027 World Cup. The marquee event will be held in Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia) in October-November. Still, 14 months remain before the event begins, but the planning of all teams has already started gaining momentum. The top order of the Indian cricket team looks all but settled, but the same cannot be said about the bowling attack and the middle order.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri picked a squad that includes Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Former India star Aakash Chopra analysed the squad.
“He has started with Shubman Gill as captain, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. These are along the expected lines. After that, he has picked Yashasvi Jaiswal, which is a very interesting choice. You have given yourself many options as far as opening is concerned. Then he has picked KL Rahul along with Rishabh Pant. OK. This is a ‘hatke’ team by Ravi bhai because Yashasvi Jaiswal has two ODI centuries, but will he make it? That is a difficult question. So, the presence of Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant when KL Rahul is already in the side… I mean, Pant has not been treated the right way in ODI cricket. You dropped him without giving him a proper run. But will he be picked now is the question, with the World Cup so close. As it is, Ishan Kishan seems to be the flavour of the month,” Chopra said in a video.
“Then he has kept two left-arm spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, while Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have also found a place in his team. He has gone with left-arm spinners with good experience, which makes sense. Then there are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep, Bumrah and Siraj are no-brainers, but both Shami and Bhuvneshwar? Very interesting choices.”
He termed the side “hatke”.
“In true Mumbaiya style, it is a ‘hatke’ team. I mean, Bhuvneshwar should be played regularly because he only plays white-ball cricket. But to have both him and Shami, along with Jaiswal and Pant, makes this a very interesting team. How much do I rate this team? Well, 8/10. I don’t think the final squad will look like this unless Ravi bhai himself becomes the selector. A left-arm fast bowler is missing and it is not a likely 15. That is what I think,” Chopra said.