India begins 2027 ODI World Cup preparations in England

By Arjun Nair / 14.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

India’s ODI World Cup Vision

India captain Shubman Gill has affirmed the importance of the One-day International format, advocating for its continuation without changes to the 50-over structure. Speaking ahead of the first ODI against England at Edgbaston, Gill dismissed suggestions of reducing the format to 40 overs. He emphasized that the 50-over World Cup remains the most prestigious tournament in ODI cricket.

Gill, who assumed captaincy duties in the ODI format late last year, highlighted that every series from this point forward will be crucial for working out team combinations and preparing for the conditions expected in South Africa. The team’s mindset is focused on finding combinations and adapting to wickets that will be similar to those in South Africa, making the current series a significant one for India.

The road to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, officially began for India with their series in England. This follows a period where India has consistently prioritized upcoming ICC events across formats, including ODIs in 2023 and T20Is until March 2026.

Gill believes that instead of altering the format, introducing multi-nation tournaments more frequently could enhance the appeal of ODI cricket for both players and fans. He recalled the enjoyment of past Triangular Series involving teams like India, Australia, and Sri Lanka, suggesting that such formats, or even Quadrangular Series, could make the game more interesting to play and watch.

Squad Discussions and Player Returns

Looking ahead, Gill revealed that he has already begun planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He has engaged in discussions with Virat Kohli regarding the ideal squad composition for the conditions in South Africa. Their conversations at the nets focused on identifying the best combination, including potential players not currently in the team who could contribute in the future, as well as specific bowlers, all-rounders, and spinners.

Gill also welcomed the return of Jasprit Bumrah to the ODI squad. Bumrah rejoined the team after being rested to manage his workload following the IPL 2026. The captain expressed hope that Bumrah would have a successful series and contribute to India winning the series.

The team faces challenges, including injuries to several all-rounders. Hardik Pandya is not part of the squad, and Nitish K Reddy and Harshit Rana have faced injury setbacks. Despite these issues, Gill emphasized the importance of experienced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, describing them as the backbone of India‘s batting lineup. He highlighted their valuable experience and skill, which have been consistently demonstrated over the past decade in various conditions and tournaments.

The current series against England marks the start of India‘s preparations, following a white-ball stretch that included a 2-0 loss in Ireland and a 4-0 defeat in the T20I series against England. India will play 12 ODIs until next April, including away series against England and New Zealand, and home series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies, as they aim to finalize their squad for the upcoming World Cup cycle.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com