With the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, India have already started shaping their squad for the mega
event. While the batting department appears well-settled with a strong mix of experienced stars and emerging talents, the pace-bowling unit remains an area where the team management can invest in the future.
With Jasprit Bumrah expected to lead the attack, India will need a few young fast bowlers capable of supporting him in conditions that traditionally favour pace and bounce. The African pitches are known to assist seamers, making it crucial for India to identify and groom promising pacers well in advance.
Here are three young pacers whom India can groom for 2027 ODI World Cup:
Prince Yadav
Prince Yadav has steadily risen through the ranks with consistent performances in domestic cricket. His impressive wicket tally in the domestic circuit, combined with encouraging displays in franchise cricket, has brought him into the national reckoning.
Prince’s biggest strength lies in his variations and game awareness. He possesses the ability to use the pitch effectively and outsmart batters with changes in pace and length. Such skills become invaluable in ODI cricket, where adaptability often separates good bowlers from great ones. With regular exposure at the international level, Prince could emerge as a dependable option for India in the World Cup.
Arshad Khan
Left-arm pacer Arshad Khanoffers something different to India’s pace attack. With most Indian fast bowlers being right-arm seamers, a quality left-arm option can add variety and create different angles against opposition batters.
Arshad has showcased his potential through disciplined spells and effective death bowling. His ability to bowl yorkers and maintain control under pressure makes him a promising prospect. Alongside Arshdeep Singh, he could provide India with a balanced pace attack. If given consistent opportunities and proper guidance, Arshad could become a key part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Gurnoor Brar
Gurnoor Brar is one of the most exciting young pace prospects in Indian cricket. The tall pacer has already shown his ability to extract bounce and trouble batters with hard lengths. During his recent ODI opportunities, he impressed with his wicket-taking ability and composure under pressure.
What makes Brar a strong candidate for the 2027 World Cup is his bowling style, which is perfectly suited to the conditions expected in South Africa and Namibia. His ability to hit the deck hard and generate extra bounce can make him a valuable asset on fast tracks. If nurtured properly over the next two years, Brar could become an important member of India’s pace attack.
