India's 2027 World Cup journey begins with questions ahead of Afghanistan ODI

Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul (BCCI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Dharamsala: The injuries to Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya have left coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill with several questions to answer as India's road to the 2027 ODI World Cup begins on Saturday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, where they take on Afghanistan in the first ODI of the three-match series.

Who will bat at 3? If bowling coach Morne Morkel is to be believed, the management is looking to rotate two or three batters in Virat Kohli's No. 3 role. "As for the No. 3 slot, that's something we'll explore during this series. Whether it's Ishan (Kishan), KL (Rahul) or Yashasvi (Jaiswal), it's a nice opportunity," he told reporters. "We've got a few one-day games coming up and we'll give guys opportunities in different positions to get a better idea of how we want to structure the team and what options we have." Filling Virat's shoes at the No 3 is going to be a big challenge for all three of them. Ishan Kishan was picked as backup opener and wicketkeeper into the squad before Kohli's injury. The TimesofIndia.com can confirm that the team management for long has wanted to have a southpaw in the top three. Now with Virat's injury, they will have a chance to pick either Ishan or Jaiswal. However, Ishan Kishan looked set to don the gloves as he had an extended session with fielding coach T Dilip after his batting session. Which means Jaiswal will have to wait. Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who has kept wicket in ODIs for the past three years and has made No 6 his own, is going to be India's most experienced batter in the middle-order. Will the management ask Rahul to bat at 3 in Kohli's absence, in that case India's middle-order will look fragile.

NKR set to replace Hardik

Hardik Pandya's absence has accelerated India's search for alternatives ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, and bowling coach Morne Morkel believes Nitish Kumar Reddy has earned his chance. "You always look at your options, whether it's batting, bowling or all-rounders," said Morkel. "Unfortunately, Hardik is missing this series after picking up quite a niggle just before joining camp. But again, it's another opportunity for Nitish Kumar Reddy. "He's been playing beautifully over the last couple of years and has done a lot of work on his game. Like the new bowlers coming into the squad, it's an opportunity for players in that role to put their hands up and maybe make life difficult for the selectors." Nitish Kumar Reddy is by no means a ready product. He has definitely worked on his bowling with Steffan Jones but is he Hardik Pandya? The one-word answer to that question is: no. However, bowling Morne Morkel showered praise on the young all-rounder and tipped that he is going to play on Saturday. "I always encourage players to work on their games and identify areas where they can improve," said Morkel. "Nitish did that. From a technical point of view, it was about getting him into a better position, creating more balance so that the energy flows down the wicket. We believe there's improvement in both departments of his game. "We're excited for him to get an opportunity and see how he puts it together on the international stage," added Morkel.

Gurnoor and Prince to get their chance

With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being rested for this series, it has opened the door for India's next generation of fast bowlers, with bowling coach Morne Morkel viewing the Afghanistan series as an important step in building depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. "That's definitely part of our thinking and our vision: to give ourselves options for the World Cup in South Africa," Morkel said. While acknowledging that "we know what Bumrah can do with the new ball," he stressed the importance of exposing young bowlers to high-pressure international cricket. Morkel was particularly encouraged by his early impressions of Prince and Gurnoor, with the duo he worked tirelessly during the one-off Test against Afghanistan. "It almost felt like they'd been part of the squad for five years," he said, praising the duo's composure and work ethic. "They were accurate and on the money," he added.

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