• Source:JND

Team India are currently preparing for their upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, which is scheduled to start from September 27. With the ODI World Cup 2027 now just over a year away, the series will also mark an important phase in India’s preparations for the tournament.

The futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been a major talking point in Indian cricket. Both veterans remain central to the discussion around the 2027 World Cup, although Rohit has faced greater scrutiny following some recent performances.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes the team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, should avoid making too many changes in the build-up to the World Cup. The 2011 World Cup winner feels India need to settle on a core group and give those players enough opportunities before the tournament.

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Why does Yuvraj want India to stick with the same group?

Yuvraj believes India cannot afford to keep making major changes as the World Cup gets closer. He also stressed that players need regular ODI cricket, especially with the current schedule giving them fewer opportunities in the 50-over format.

“They need to focus on building the same team to play in a year’s time, because you don’t want to make big changes at the last moment,” the 2011 ODI World Cup winner told Cricinfo. “Whoever your players are, whether they are 16 or 20, it’s important that everybody gets game time because obviously now there’s more T20s and less 50-over cricket. Whatever matches there are, it’s important that players get enough game time to prepare for the World Cup.

Yuvraj feels India should identify their core group well before the 2027 World Cup and then back those players through both good and bad patches.

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What did Yuvraj say about India’s past World Cup changes?

The former all-rounder pointed to India’s previous experiences and said sudden changes close to or during major tournaments have not always worked in their favour.

“Every time India have faltered is when they’ve made some massive changes at the last moment or in the tournament. So I think it’s important that we stick to a team that we believe can lift the 2027 World Cup and stick by those guys whether they fail or succeed till that moment. Belief in the squad is very important,” Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj himself played a key role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph and was named Player of the Series. His comments come at a time when the team management will have to carefully manage the transition between experienced players and the next generation.

Where do Rohit and Virat stand ahead of the 2027 World Cup?

Rohit and Kohli’s places in India’s 2027 World Cup plans have been under discussion for some time. Rohit responded strongly to his critics during India’s ODI series in England in July. After scoring 26 and 10 in the first two matches, the former India captain produced a brilliant 137 in the third ODI at Lord’s, although India eventually lost the game.

The age factor, however, remains part of the wider discussion. Rohit will turn 40 during the 2027 World Cup in Africa, while Kohli will be 39.

Despite the questions surrounding the senior players, Yuvraj believes India’s recent success in white-ball cricket shows the value of continuity.

Can consistency help India in the 2027 World Cup?

India have reached four major white-ball finals since 2023. They finished runners-up at the 2023 ODI World Cup before winning the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups and the Champions Trophy in 2025.

Yuvraj believes that consistency has played an important role in India’s recent run and wants the same approach to continue ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“That’s something that we have also done in the last two T20 World Cups,” Yuvraj said. “We also played the 50-over World Cup final [in 2023]. So we have had a lot of consistency in white-ball cricket. And that’s what they need to do as well to think of first qualifying for the semis and then going on to play in the last two [knockout matches]. I think that’s a long way ahead. Focus should be to get a squad ready which is together and ready to fight in any situation,” said Yuvraj.


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