5 Indian youngsters who might play 2027 World Cup

Tilak Varma. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Cricket World Cup 2023 ended with India’s crushing six-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The recently concluded One-Day International (ODI) competition might become the last World Cup appearance of some India veterans such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja.

These experienced names have been active in international cricket for more than 10 years, and they might hang up their boots before the next World Cup edition. Before their retirement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will look to get some youngsters who could deliver exceptional performances to the team in the 2027 World Cup as these legends did in the recently passed ODI event.

In recent times, some youngsters have displayed their extraordinary skills in domestic cricket, and noting their performances, it can be said that these players might be seen donning the blue jersey and representing India in the 2027 World Cup to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Here are the five youngsters who might be seen representing India in the 2027 World Cup

5. Ravi Bishnoi

Rav Bishnoi is known for his excellent leg-break bowling in the domestic circle. He has been active for Rajasthan in List A cricket since September 2019, and since then, he has scalped 36 wickets in 25 matches at an economy of 5.45. In October 2022, he was handed his ODI debut against South Africa in Lucknow.

In his maiden one-day game, he picked up Quinton de Kock in his eight-over spell but also gave away 69 runs. Following this game, the Indian team management didn’t pick him up for ODIs again, but he might get opportunities in the future due to his brilliant spin-bowling talent.

Apart from India’s domestic circuit, the 23-year-old looked impressive in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The youngster has picked up 53 wickets in 52 outings at an economy of 7.59. He has the potential to maul batters with googly, and in the cash-rich T20 tournament, he has used it as a weapon to trap legends such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

4. Arshdeep Singh

In the 2023 World Cup, Mohammed Shami looked fabulous with the ball and ended up as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with 24 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 5.26. Team India will look to get the veteran pacer’s services in the 2027 World Cup again, but if he fails to do it, then the Men in Blue will look for a speedster who could fill his shoes.

Arshdeep Singh could be one of the candidates who has the potential to take Shami’s place in the side. The 24-year-old is a brilliant seam bowler with the ability to swing both ways to outfox batters. In T20 Internationals (T20Is), he has proven himself with his extraordinary skills.

In cricket’s shortest format, he is the second Indian bowler to pick up the fastest 50 wickets. The young paceman achieved the feat in just 33 T20Is. However, his ODI performance isn’t up to the mark after three games but his talent is something that can help him to appear for India in the 2027 World Cup.

3. Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma grabbed the limelight after his stunning batting performance for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2022 IPL. The left-handed batter scored 397 runs in 14 contests and ended up as the second-leading run-getter for the franchise. Varma showcased his batting talent again in the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

This time, he hit 402 runs with two tons and a fifty in seven matches and ended up as Hyderabad’s second-highest run-scorer in the competition. Varma has proven himself in domestic cricket and in the upcoming years, he might become a regular member of India’s ODI side.

Varma counters spinners and pacers exceptionally and has the potential to move the game for his side in a swift manner with his aggressive batting style. In the 2023 Asia Cup match against Bangladesh, he donned India’s jersey for the first time in ODI cricket but couldn’t produce a solid knock from his bat. The 21-year-old’s endeavours will be to prove himself in the national side so that he can play his maiden World Cup for India in 2027.

2. Umran Malik

The Indian team management will look to invest its time in Umran Malik, who is known for his blazing pace. The fierce speedster clocks around or above 150 km/h consistently which can turn him into a formidable force against batters. In November 2022, he made his ODI debut against New Zealand in Auckland.

Since then, he has bagged 13 wickets in nine innings at an expensive economy of 6.54. Noting his failure to contain runs, the team management dropped him from the side before the 2023 Asia Cup. Along with the continental tournament, the speedster didn’t get a chance to be a part of India’s 2023 World Cup team.

After missing the recently passed ODI event, Umran will back himself to uplift his performance and establish himself as a mainstay bowler on the national side. The 2027 World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia where he could do wonders with the ball.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal has done a marvellous job with his bat in List A cricket. The southpaw has piled up 1511 runs in 32 games at a magnificent average of 53.96. In the 2023 IPL, he looked sensational with his bat for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Notching up 625 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 163.61, he ended up as the fifth-highest run-getter in the tournament.

His spunky league performance helped him earn a spot in India’s Test and T20I teams. The 21-year-old’s batting will be watched closely by the team management in the upcoming days and if he succeeds in delivering some great knocks to the side, selectors might pick him up for ODIs.

In 2019, Jaiswal became the first Mumbai batter to hit a double century in List A cricket, with his remarkable 203 off 154 deliveries against Jharkhand in Alur. His domestic numbers show he has the potential to be an ideal top-order batter for India in the future. With Rohit Sharma heading towards the likely end of his career, the youngster will strive to take the legend’s spot as an opener.