New Delhi: Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes India have a strong chance of winning the 2027 ODI World Cup comfortably, provided they strengthen their bowling attack. With Shubman Gill leading the team’s preparations for the tournament, Sehwag has identified Jasprit Bumrah as the key figure who could guide India’s pace attack.
The 2027 World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. With a demanding tournament ahead, India will need to build a balanced squad and ensure their bowlers can perform consistently throughout the competition.
Speaking at an event in Delhi on Saturday, Sehwag stressed that India’s bowling performance could play a decisive role in determining their chances of lifting the trophy.
“Among our fast bowlers, we have Bumrah, who is the best we have. If our bowling attack stays strong in the World Cup, then we can win it very easily,” said Sehwag, who was part of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team.
India’s Bowling Attack Remains a Major Concern
India’s bowling has come under scrutiny following their recent home ODI series against the West Indies. The Indian team conceded 295, 405 and 351 runs across the three matches, highlighting concerns about its ability to contain opposition batters.
Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable for the series as he was with the T20 squad for its Asian Games campaign. In his absence, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struggled to make the desired impact.
The performances also raised questions about the experience available in India’s pace department. With the 2027 World Cup approaching, the team management and selectors will need to assess their options and identify a bowling combination capable of handling different conditions.
Why Pace Could Decide India’s World Cup Campaign
Fast bowling is expected to be an important factor in the 2027 ODI World Cup, particularly with matches scheduled in South Africa. The country’s pitches are known for offering assistance to pace bowlers, and fresh surfaces early in the tournament could make fast bowling even more influential.
India have spent the past couple of years developing younger pace options after moving on from Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, the need for greater experience could bring both senior bowlers back into consideration.
Bhuvneshwar has returned to India’s T20I squad after four years and has reportedly emerged as a possible candidate for the 2027 ODI World Cup squad. Shami, meanwhile, has continued working towards an international comeback through consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Their potential inclusion could provide India with additional experience and strengthen the pace attack ahead of the tournament.
India Face Key Decisions Before the 2027 ODI World Cup
With less than a year remaining before the competition begins, India’s bowling combination will be an important area to watch. The selectors must weigh the potential of younger players against the experience of established bowlers while preparing a squad suited to conditions in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Sehwag’s assessment places particular importance on Bumrah’s role and the overall effectiveness of the pace attack. Whether India can address their bowling concerns in time will be a key factor in shaping their World Cup campaign.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the statements and information provided in the source material. Team selections, player availability and tournament preparations may change before the 2027 ODI World Cup. Sehwag’s comments represent his personal assessment and should not be treated as a guarantee of the tournament’s outcome.