Former India spinner R Ashwin has stirred up fresh selection debate by revealing the 15-man group he would send to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Speaking on a Cricinfo show, Ashwin built his squad around India’s senior core — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and captain-in-waiting Shubman Gill — while choosing to drop two names many fans expected to see: teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. The pick has quickly become a talking point across Indian cricket circles, partly because of who was left out, and partly because of who Ashwin wants brought back in: veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Here’s a full breakdown of Ashwin’s squad, the reasoning fans are debating, and what it could mean for India’s World Cup planning over the next year.
🔥 Story Highlights
- R Ashwin picked his ideal India squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup on a Cricinfo broadcast.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, one of Indian cricket’s most-hyped young batters, did not make the cut.
- Sanju Samson was also left out of the wicketkeeping slot.
- Shubman Gill was backed to continue leading India into the tournament.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retained key batting roles.
- Ashwin pushed for Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to India’s ODI setup after a multi-year absence.
- Eight players were placed in a “maybe” bracket rather than a firm yes or no.
- The squad leans heavily on experience over the newest wave of talent.
- Ishan Kishan was preferred as the specialist keeping option.
- The pace attack combined proven wicket-takers with an uncapped ODI comeback candidate.
📊 Squad Snapshot
| Category | Players |
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Batters | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul |
| Wicketkeeper | Ishan Kishan |
| All-rounders | Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel |
| Spinners | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Fast Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (proposed comeback) |
| Maybe List | Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna |
📝 What Did Ashwin Say?
Ashwin’s core argument was straightforward: India should build its 2027 campaign around players who have already delivered under World Cup pressure, rather than gambling heavily on unproven talent. He was explicit that Gill should remain captain through to the tournament, describing the youngster as the right long-term leadership choice for the format.
The most eye-catching part of his comments centred on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Ashwin argued the team management should start a conversation with the pacer now, get him bowling across formats — including first-class cricket and the Vijay Hazare Trophy — and have him primed for India’s tour of South Africa. In his own words, Ashwin said India would “need him there.”
🏏 Complete Squad Analysis
Batting Unit
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain non-negotiable picks in Ashwin’s eyes, a sign that experience still trumps youth in his framework for ICC events. Shubman Gill anchors the top order and the leadership group simultaneously, giving India batting stability and continuity at once. Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion reflects his consistent middle-order returns in the format, while KL Rahul offers the flexibility of batting anywhere from the top three to a finishing role. Ishan Kishan rounds out the top six as the specialist gloveman, chosen ahead of Samson for the keeper’s slot.
All-rounders
Hardik Pandya remains the balance-provider India has relied on since 2018, giving the side a genuine fifth or sixth bowling option alongside his finishing ability. Axar Patel adds left-arm variety and lower-order hitting, making India’s middle overs harder to score against on slower pitches.
Bowling Attack
Jasprit Bumrah is the attack’s spearhead and the one automatic selection across formats. Mohammed Siraj offers control with the new ball, while Harshit Rana brings raw pace and the ability to hit the deck hard — a skill set suited to bouncier venues. Kuldeep Yadav is the frontline spin option, valued for his wicket-taking threat in the middle overs rather than pure containment.
🚨 Biggest Talking Points
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s omission, despite the buzz around his batting.
- Sanju Samson missing out on the keeper’s role entirely.
- Gill’s captaincy being backed publicly, well ahead of the tournament.
- The push to reintegrate Bhuvneshwar Kumar after years away from ODIs.
- A squad built visibly around senior players rather than the newest crop.
⭐ Why Were These Players Left Out?
Sooryavanshi’s absence likely comes down to game time and format-specific proof rather than raw ability — much of his breakout impact so far has come in shorter formats and franchise cricket, and selectors often want a longer domestic ODI sample before trusting a teenager with a World Cup berth. Samson’s omission is harder to pin down definitively, but it may reflect a preference for a keeper seen as a more reliable gloveman across a long tournament, or simply the tight competition for middle-order and keeping slots. Neither explanation is confirmed by Ashwin, and both remain open to debate as more domestic and bilateral cricket is played before 2027.
👀 The “Maybe” Players
| Player | Chances | Possible Role |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Strong | Opening batter, backup or replacement for top order |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Moderate | Middle-order batting depth |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Strong | All-round balance, spin-bowling all-rounder |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Moderate | Pace-bowling all-rounder option |
| Mohammed Shami | Moderate | Experienced seam-bowling backup |
| Arshdeep Singh | Moderate | Left-arm pace variation |
| Prasidh Krishna | Moderate | Extra pace and bounce option |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Moderate | Wrist-spin variation in middle overs |
🎯 Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Possible Comeback
Ashwin’s support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s ODI return is arguably the boldest part of his squad selection. The seamer has been out of India’s ODI setup since 2022, but his recent franchise form has kept his name in selection conversations. He was a key contributor to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back IPL title wins, taking 45 wickets across the last two seasons at an economy under nine.
Across his ODI career, Bhuvneshwar has picked up 141 wickets in 121 matches, with a five-wicket haul to his name and a career economy rate around five runs per over — numbers that speak to his control with the new ball. His experience touring South Africa, where conditions historically favour disciplined seam bowling, is likely central to Ashwin’s argument for bringing him back into the fold ahead of India’s tour there.
📈 Current Talking Points
- Gill’s captaincy looks increasingly settled heading toward 2027.
- Kohli and Rohit continue to command trust from respected voices in the game.
- Fans remain split over dropping Sooryavanshi despite his hype.
- The Bhuvneshwar comeback debate is gaining momentum among former players.
- Competition for India’s middle-order and keeper slots is intensifying.
- The pace-bowling pool remains deep, with multiple “maybe” candidates in the mix.
📱 Fan Reactions
Early reactions across social media have been split. A section of fans has questioned leaving out Sooryavanshi given his rapid rise, arguing a talent of his ceiling deserves a longer runway in the setup. Others have backed Ashwin’s more conservative approach, pointing to the value of proven performers in ICC knockout cricket. The Bhuvneshwar suggestion has also divided opinion, with some welcoming the experience he’d bring and others questioning whether a seamer out of the format since 2022 can realistically force his way back in.
🔮 Looking Ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup
India’s likely core for 2027 appears to be forming around Gill’s captaincy, with Rohit, Kohli, Bumrah and Pandya providing experience around him. The bigger questions remain in the middle order and the pace-bowling pecking order, where several “maybe” players will get opportunities across bilateral series and the Vijay Hazare Trophy to state their case. South Africa’s tour will be an important proving ground, especially for seam options like Bhuvneshwar, Shami, Arshdeep and Prasidh Krishna. Selectors will also be watching how Sooryavanshi and Samson perform over the next several months, since a single strong domestic or bilateral run can quickly reshape squad conversations before 2027.
✅ Key Takeaways
- R Ashwin named his preferred India squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the group.
- Sanju Samson missed selection for the keeper’s role.
- Shubman Gill was backed to continue as captain.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retained their places.
- Ashwin pushed for Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s ODI return.
- Bhuvneshwar has 141 ODI wickets from 121 matches.
- Eight players were placed in a “maybe” category.
- The squad favours experience over the newest talent pool.
- South Africa’s tour is seen as a key proving ground before 2027.
❓ FAQs
1. Who did R Ashwin pick as captain for the 2027 ODI World Cup? Ashwin backed Shubman Gill to continue as India’s ODI captain into the tournament.
2. Why was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi left out of Ashwin’s squad? Ashwin didn’t give a detailed reason, but selectors typically want a longer ODI track record before trusting a young batter with a World Cup berth.
3. Was Sanju Samson included in the squad? No, Ashwin picked Ishan Kishan as his specialist wicketkeeper instead.
4. Did Ashwin retain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? Yes, both veterans were kept in the batting group.
5. What did Ashwin say about Bhuvneshwar Kumar? Ashwin recommended India start preparing Bhuvneshwar for a return, suggesting he play across formats ahead of the South Africa tour.
6. How many wickets does Bhuvneshwar Kumar have in ODIs? He has taken 141 wickets in 121 ODIs for India.
7. Who were the “maybe” players in Ashwin’s squad? Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.
8. Who did Ashwin pick as India’s frontline spinner? Kuldeep Yadav was his preferred frontline spin option.
9. Is this an official BCCI squad? No, this is Ashwin’s personal pick, not an official selection.
10. When is the next ODI World Cup? The 2027 ODI World Cup is the next edition of the tournament, with India expected to be among the favourites.
Conclusion
R Ashwin’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad leans firmly on experience, keeping faith with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and captain Shubman Gill while leaving out two of Indian cricket’s most talked-about names in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson. His push to bring Bhuvneshwar Kumar back into the ODI fold adds another layer to the debate, especially with India’s South Africa tour on the horizon. None of this is official selection, but with a deep pool of “maybe” candidates still fighting for places, expect the conversation around India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad to keep evolving over the coming months.
