The expectations for the Indian squad for the ODI 2027 World Cup are set to begin with a series of three matches against Afghanistan from June 13, with reports indicating there is some uncertainty in the team factors due to the leadership, communication, and planning aspect among the players. With the spotlight back on the 50 over format, a few senior players are reportedly looking to improve their clarity of thoughts about their roles and the direction of the team.
The upcoming series is the first big step in India’s preparations for the World Cup to be shared by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The picks in the ODI side are more or less settled but queries have been raised on managing the senior players and leadership in the middle of Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill were raised.
Veteran player Virat Kohli is also an important player in India’s World Cup preparations even after his retirement from Test and T20I During the India’s 2025 ODI tour of South Africa, Kohli had a stellar season, finishing as the top run-scorer for the Indian team. Yet may be unable to make the Afghanistan series appearance due to hamstring sore.
Rohit Sharma, who is the former captain, will likely get a revival with the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence giving him fitness clearance. Rohit scored the second most runs for India in ODIs in 2025 and was one of the main factors on the Australia tour. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is rumoured to be unavailable for the match because of injury concerns.
In an ODI setup, India is now going through a transition phase, as its senior players are at the peak of their careers, while the younger leaders are preparing for the future. The appearances have Afghanistan to England will surely yield significant insights into staffing, management and the path ahead for the team in 2027’s World Cup.