Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has urged the Indian management to avoid making last-minute changes to the 2027 ODI World Cup squad, asserting that there should be a clear objective as the team begins preparing for the mega event set to be played next year. Yuvraj is of the view that identifying the strongest group and continuing with that could prove to be fruitful.
India will begin their ODI World Cup with a three-match home ODI series against West Indies starting on September 27. The series will also help the selection committee with an opportunity to identify the reliable campaigners. One of the biggest questions surrounding the selection process is the future of former captain Rohit Sharma in international cricket. The selection committee has to take a call on Rohit’s long-term role as India look towards the next World Cup cycle.
"Every time India have faltered is when they've made some massive changes at the last moment or in the tournament. So I think it's important that we stick to a team that we believe can lift the 2027 World Cup and stick by those guys whether they fail or succeed till that moment. Belief in the squad is very important," Yuvraj told Cricinfo.
Yuvraj, who was the Player-of-the-Series during India's 2011 ODI World Cup title win, lauded India’s consistency in white-ball cricket. Notably, India earlier this year defended the T20I World Cup, becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 crown.
"We have had a lot of consistency in white-ball cricket. They need to think of first qualifying for the semis and then going on to play in the last two [knockout matches]. I think that's a long way ahead. Focus should be to get a squad ready which is together and ready to fight in any situation," Yuvraj said.