India cricket team faces selection debate ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup

Former India fast bowler Munaf Patel said India cannot drop Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli if it wants to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa and Zimbabwe from 4 October to 21 November. Patel argued the pair’s consistency over the past decade makes them indispensable and warned against forcing a premature retirement.

Patel also criticised the selection of young fast‑bowler Mayank Yadav for the upcoming Zimbabwe T20I series, citing fitness concerns and limited IPL exposure. He questioned the National Cricket Academy’s handling of fast‑bowling talent, including the fitness of veterans such as Mohammed Shami, and suggested a broader pool of bowlers – Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and domestic performers like Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi – should be considered for the World Cup squad. India, runners‑up in the 2023 edition, aims to convert that close finish into a title in 2027.