Team India's head coach from 2017 to 2021, Ravi Shastri, has revealed his choice of India squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. The 50-over ICC event will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November next year.
Under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, the Indian team had won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but since Shubman Gill has taken over as captain, India has lost ODI series to Australia, New Zealand, and now England.
Given the current circumstances and the impending 2027 World Cup, former coach Ravi Shastri recently selected his choice of Team India's best squad for the tournament. To everyone's astonishment, Shastri left out two of the players who are highly supported by the present coach.
When speaking on Sports Tak, Ravi Shastri was asked to select his ideal Team India squad for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
The former Indian cricketer surprised everyone by leaving Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana out of his 15-player squad. It is noteworthy that current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir also has a strong preference for the two all-rounders.
In a more surprising move, Shastri picked Ravindra Jadeja and out-of-favor fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar instead. Notably, Jadeja last played for India early this year, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not played for India since 2022.
And not only these two players, but Shastri also included two discarded India pacers in Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Mohammed Siraj last played an ODI in January this year, while Shami last played for India in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Shastri’s preferred batting lineup saw captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were picked as the wicketkeeper-batters. Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja were chosen as all-rounders in the 15-man squad. Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the lone specialist spinner.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were picked as the pacers.
Commentator Ravi Shastri has chosen to go with experience for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, despite constant shuffling and experimentation by Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management.
Ravi Shastri’s India squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.
