A little over a year left ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africadiscussions around of India The ideal combination for the marquee tournament has already begun. The Men in Blue continued their preparations with an impressive ODI series win over Afghanistan, including a 170-run victory in the second ODI at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow recently.
As India continue to push towards the global event, several former cricketers have started sharing their views on the team’s strongest possible squad. Joining this conversation is the ex-Indian trend Manoj TiwaryHe has revealed his preferred XI for the World Cup, featuring a few notable picks and omissions.
Manoj Tiwary backs a star-studded batting line-up
Tiwari kept the experienced at the top of the order Rohit Sharma along with Shubman Gill, whom he also trusted with the captaincy. The duo have formed one of India’s most successful opening partnerships in recent years and are expected to play an important role in the tournament. Virat Kohli takes the 3rd place, providing experience and stability in the batting line-up. One of the most talked about points in Tiwari’s selection is his inclusion Ishan Kishi No. 4.
The left-hander gets ahead of several opponents and also handles the wicket keeping duties. The middle order is further strengthened Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahulboth have been delivered consecutively in the ODI format. Their ability to handle pressure situations and build shots makes them valuable assets in South African conditions.
Hardik Pandya is the key to team balance
Tiwary emphasized the importance Hardik Pandya’s presence in the side underlines the balance he brings as a true pace-bowling all-rounder. However, he also admitted that fitness could be a deciding factor. The former cricketer suggested that Nitish Kumar Reddy He could emerge as a potential substitute if Hardik is not available.
Nitish has impressed across formats in recent months and is increasingly viewed as a long-term all-rounder option for India. Including Hardik, Tiwary’s squad gets additional batting depth and also gives the team more flexibility in handling the bowling workload.
Kuldeep is a fast bowling attack as a single spinner
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Tiwari’s XI is his bowling combination. He made a choice Kuldeep Yadav as the only specialist spinner, he believes the wrist spinner will be more effective than the finger spinners on South African surfaces. Characteristics of the tempo of the attack jasprit bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
While Bumrah remains India’s undisputed attacking leader, both Arshdeep and Harshit have quickly established themselves as important white-ball options. Note that Muhammad Siraj misses out on Tiwary’s preferred XI despite being a regular member of India’s ODI set-up in recent years. The former instead supported a three-pronged pace attack supported by Hardik and Kuldeep.
Manoj Tiwary’s India XI for ODI World Cup 2027: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
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