Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has demanded major changes in the Indian team ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Keeping in mind Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliant century and Shreyas Iyer’s return, he has confirmed Virat Kohli to open the innings along with Rohit Sharma.
India have dominated the ODI format since the return of their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Rohit played some important innings in Australia and scored a half-century in the opening match against South Africa, Kohli has scored consecutive centuries for India in the home series against South Africa.
However, apart from these two stars, two other cricketers performed differently from them: Shreyas Iyer in Australia and now his replacement Ruturaj Gaikwad in India. Gaikwad, who has scored a century recently, has been considered an essential part of the Indian playing XI but with the return of Shreyas Iyer, his chances are a big uncertainty.
Virat Kohli asked to open the innings with Rohit Sharma
Ahead of the South Africa series, Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to an injury sustained during the Australia tour. Ruturaj Gaikwad was called as his replacement after his excellent form with India A in the unofficial competition.
The rest, as we all know, is history, as Gaikwad scored a brilliant maiden ODI century in Raipur and is likely to continue his good form in Visakhapatnam as well. With reports suggesting Shreyas Iyer may also miss the New Zealand series, Gaikwad will have more chances to prove his potential to the Indian management.
To resolve the confusion and uncertainty regarding Gaikwad’s status, Virat Kohli has been advised to play the opening batsman along with Rohit Sharma. Ravichandran Ashwin has given this advice after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poor performance with the bat.
Ravichandran Ashwin says, “I don’t know who will open; I would ideally like, why not, Virat? Virat opens the batting in T20 cricket, if he can open with Rohit, both Ruturaj and Shreyas can come into the XI.”
Ravi Ashwin: In the 2027 World Cup, I would ideally like Rohit and Virat to open, Ruturaj at 3 and Shreyas at 4.
Ash Pa Cooking ???
– Rohan (@rohann__45) 5 December 2025
Former teammate sidelines Shubman Gill while naming World Cup prospects
While Ravichandran Ashwin attempted to replace Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Indian top-order, given his poor form, and pushed for ways to have both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer in the same playing XI, he has completely missed the presence of one of India’s most important players.
The Indian team has become completely dependent on Shubman Gill as the next captain of the ODI team. Although Gill could not play on this occasion due to a neck injury, but he is making a comeback with the T20 series against South Africa and will also be a part of New Zealand’s home series.
With the return of Shubman Gill, he will be back to open the innings along with Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely be ignored. However, this is also a challenge for Ruturaj Gaikwad, because then he will be left only as a contender for the fourth position in the batting order.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer together can strengthen India’s middle order.
Possibly, Shreyas Iyer is not just a middle-order option for India; He is the vice-captain and best batsman of India. Shreyas has played international cricket for almost twice as long as Gaikwad and has been an integral part of India’s ODI cricket.
But Ruturaj Gaikwad is definitely one of the players that India will depend on in the middle order, especially after the Rohit-Virat era; Therefore, the two veterans should be provided maximum playing time before they bid goodbye to their careers.
“You are going to South Africa for the 2027 World Cup; if Shreyas Iyer comes back, he is a quality No. 4. If Rohit and Virat can open the innings, Ruturaj Gaikwad can also be used,” Ashwin said.
Also read: ICC removed Indians from Player of the Month nominees for November 2025, Pakistani player got the place.
