Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons India will have the same top six batters for the 2027 ODI World Cup as they had in the 2023 World Cup. Chopra highlighted all-rounder Hardik Pandya is going to hold the key while batting at number six.
Pandya has been troubled with multiple injuries in the recent past and hasn’t played any professional cricket since IPL 2026. In the absence of Pandya, the team is trying to give opportunities to Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Chopra is confident that the quintet of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will be India’s top five as they have delivered consistently in the 50-over version of the game.
“When I look at the batting order, there is no difference seen between 2023 and 2027. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are your two openers, who were there in 2023 as well. Both are in good form, and I am hoping they remain in good form till the World Cup. Virat Kohli at No. 3. I don’t feel there will be any dip in his form for you to have a conversation,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“I am extremely confident about Shreyas Iyer. He is one of the finest middle-order batters in modern-day ODI cricket. KL Rahul at No. 5 – no conversation whatsoever. Hardik Pandya at No. 6. He is the only one with that quality of skill set. I have never seen him in bad form. Hardik Pandya is critical at No. 6,” he added.
Chopra added that in-form Ishan Kishan is ahead of everyone else in the pecking order as a backup option as a batter and wicket-keeper.
“You will need a backup batter and keeper. You also need an opener and a middle-order batter. Only one guy does that job. That’s Ishan Kishan. Currently, Ishan Kishan is ahead of everyone else in that race. He is No. 1 in that ranking. He is one guy who fits every single bill,” he said.
The renowned commentator added that India can also look at Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal as backup openers, but they are not going to give a wicket-keeping option.
“There are two or three other names here. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is an out-and-out opener, but will you sacrifice something else for an opener? Ruturaj Gaikwad, once again a middle-order batter and an opener, but the wicketkeeper option is still vacant. So Ishan Kishan automatically ticks all the boxes,” Chopra observed.
India’s next ODI series is against New Zealand.
