Former cricketer WV Raman feels that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is slated to play a pivotal role in India's quest for a third ODI World Cup title in 2027, provided the star cricketer remains fit and available to contribute with both bat and ball.
Pandya's ability to balance the side by serving as a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder makes him one of India's most valuable assets in the 50-over format. Raman believes that if the 32-year-old can consistently bowl his full quota of overs, he could offer
the team significant flexibility during the marquee tournament.
"I believe that he can be a terrific cricketer for the Indian team. The flexibility he can provide if fit and able to bowl 10 overs is invaluable. But I think it will all come down to the fitness levels he can maintain," Raman was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
Raman also pointed out that Pandya's recurring fitness concerns remain a major factor. The former India coach highlighted that the all-rounder was initially included in India's squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan but had to withdraw due to injury issues.
"Even for this Afghanistan series, he was picked in the squad, but unfortunately, he was pulled out at the last minute because of injuries," he observed.
With India scheduled to play only around 15 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup, Raman stressed the importance of using every available opportunity to build the ideal squad and identify the most effective combinations.
India have consistently reached the knockout stages of the last three ODI World Cups in recent years, but they have often fallen short at crucial moments. Raman believes the team management should focus on experimentation over the next 12 to 15 months to avoid repeating past mistakes.
"Having reached the knockout stage eight times and succeeded only twice shows that the team management needs to look at various options and get into an experimental mode," he said.
The veteran further explained that bilateral series should be viewed as opportunities to assess both first-choice players and backup options ahead of the global event.
"The 12 to 15 months leading up to the tournament are very important. They must utilise all bilateral series to try different combinations. This will help players discover themselves and allow the management to assess their main strength, bench strength and possible options as the World Cup approaches," he added.
India will enter the 2027 ODI World Cup aiming to end a prolonged wait for the trophy. The Men in Blue lifted the coveted title in 1983 and 2011 but have since endured heartbreak in several knockout matches, including runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2023.
