India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup have already started and former India star Yuvraj Singh believes the team management should focus on one key thing: consistency in team selection.
The 2011 ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament has advised India to identify a core group of players and give them enough opportunities over the next year or so. According to Yuvraj Singh, regular game time and continuity can help the players get better prepared for the World Cup.
His comments come at a time when there is uncertainty surrounding the ODI future of former India captain Rohit Sharma. Reports during India’s England tour earlier this year suggested that selectors had informed Rohit that they were looking to move forward without him.
The selection panel was also reportedly keen to give younger batter Yashasvi Jaiswal more opportunities as India began building team for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh, however, has stressed that India should avoid making major changes close to the tournament. He believes the team should decide on its core group well in advance and give those players regular opportunities. With more T20 cricket and less 50-over cricket being played, Yuvi feels every available ODI should be used to provide World Cup-bound players with valuable experience.
The former India all-rounder also pointed out that India have struggled in the past when they made major changes shortly before or during a major tournament. He believes the team management should show faith in the selected group, whether the players succeed or fail along the way.
For Yuvraj Singh, belief and continuity within the squad will be crucial if India want to win the 2027 World Cup. Yuvi also spoke about the balance of India’s World Cup squad. He does not believe the team should automatically select more all-rounders simply to increase batting depth. Instead, he feels India should focus on selecting the best players and the best combination available.
According to Yuvraj Singh, every team has a different mix of players. Some sides have several all-rounders, while others rely more heavily on specialist batters and bowlers. He believes India should select a core group of around 12, 13 or 14 players, with the 15th player chosen according to the conditions. The final combination could include an additional spinner, fast bowler or all-rounder depending on the situation.
Most importantly, Yuvraj Singh wants India to have their top 11 match-winners on the field — players capable of changing the outcome of a game individually.
Yuvraj gave the example of Australia, the most successful team in the ODI World Cup history. He believes Australia’s success has often come from having several match-winners in their squad. On a particular day, one player can produce a match-winning performance, while the entire team has the ability to fight back when under pressure. Yuvraj Singh also believes India have followed a similar approach during their last two T20 World Cup triumphs.
India’s recent consistency in ICC tournaments has also been reflected in their repeated appearances in finals, including the ODI World Cup 2023 and the Champions Trophy 2025.
For the former India star, the priority now should be to build a squad that plays together regularly and is prepared to handle different situations before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
We certainly agree with Yuvraj Singh. What is your take on this matter?
