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Former Indian cricketer WV Raman said that if Hardik Pandya remains fit, the star all-rounder can become one of the biggest strengths of the India national cricket team in the ICC World Cup 2027. However, Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the England ODI series.
Hardik’s recent fitness concerns have raised concerns, but Raman believes there is no doubt about his importance to the team. Raman said that he can contribute with both bat and ball, which will give the team more balance and more options and that is really important in big events like the World Cup.
Hardik Pandya is worried about his fitness
Hardik Pandya’s fitness remains the biggest question as he has been ruled out of both the Afghanistan series and the upcoming England tour. The star all-rounder has not played many matches in the last few years due to injuries and the same issue has come up again recently.
He was expected to be a part of India’s ongoing three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, but after initial clearance he had to pull out due to a persistent quadriceps injury. Earlier, Pandya had missed four matches of IPL 2026 due to severe back spasms. He also struggled with a leg strain.
WV Raman sees Hardik Pandya as India’s X-factor for ICC World Cup 2027
However, WV Raman feels that a fully fit Hardik can make a big difference in the ICC World Cup 2027 as he is capable of scoring important runs in the middle order and is also capable of bowling his full quota of overs. Having players with both skills helps the team management create a stronger and more flexible playing eleven.
Video | Former India batsman WV Raman believes that a fit Hardik Pandya can give India a significant boost in the 2027 ODI World Cup, with his ability to contribute as a batsman and a bowler giving the team the much-needed flexibility in big tournaments.
However, Raman emphasized that… pic.twitter.com/cNxsVB1Znw
– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 20, 2026
PTI quoted Raman as saying, “I believe he can be a fantastic cricketer for the Indian team. The flexibility he can provide when he is fit and able to bowl 10 overs is invaluable. But I think it will all depend on his fitness level which he can maintain. He was even selected in the squad for this Afghanistan series, but unfortunately, he was dropped at the last minute due to injuries.”
WV Raman urges India to start World Cup preparations early
Raman believes that India should now focus on proper preparation for the ICC World Cup 2027. With only 15 ODIs left before the tournament, he suggested that the Indian team management should try different combinations to identify the best team, backup options and their roles.
The former India women’s team head coach said, “The 12 to 15 months before the tournament are very important. They should use all the bilateral series to try different combinations. This will help the players find themselves and allow the management to assess their core strengths, bench strength and possible options as the World Cup approaches.”
Raman highlights India’s knockout struggles
India won the trophy in 1983 and 2011, but faced disappointment in 2003 and 2023. Well, Raman believes that India’s white-ball team has been excellent overall, but the team has often struggled to perform at its best during most of the knockout matches, and that is why it has not been able to win the finals.
Raman signed off by saying, “Despite not winning the 50-over World Cup, they have been exceptionally good in the white-ball format. They were perhaps found weak at crucial times in the knockout games, and they will look to address that.”
