India Players Who Have Moved 1 Step Closer To 2027 World Cup After IND vs AFG ODIs

Team India against Afghanistan [Source: AFP]

The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 might turn out to be fruitful for some Indian players. While India defeated the Afghans with a clean sweep of the ODI series after winning the third ODI at Chepauk by nine wickets, several individuals also made strong statements with their performances. 

Meanwhile, preparations for the 2027 World Cup are underway, and the BCCI is exploring various combinations by experimenting with the playing XI amid intense competition for places in the squad.

However, with just a year to go before the World Cup, it seems that some players might have strengthened their claims for a place in the all-important 50-over tournament after the Afghanistan ODI series.

Here are the notable names who have almost booked their ticket for the 2027 World Cup.

India Players Who Have Almost Booked Their Ticket For 2027 World Cup After IND vs AFG ODIs

Gurnoor Brar

Making his international debut in the Afghanistan ODI series, young Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed everyone with his pace and discipline. 

In the first ODI, he picked up three wickets while conceding just 27 runs. Furthermore, he carried his impressive form into the second ODI as well, where he once again claimed three wickets while giving away 60 runs.

Notably, he finished the series on a high, taking seven wickets in three innings at an economy rate of 5.96. As a result of his outstanding performances, he has also been rewarded with a place in India's squad for the England ODI series.

Given his ability to hit the deck hard, coupled with his impressive height of 6 feet 5 inches and his capability of taking the new ball, he appears to have significantly strengthened his chances of making the 2027 World Cup squad.

Also Read: Virat Kohli And? India Players Whose Places Could Be Under Threat After IND vs AFG ODIs

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan returned to the ODI setup after four years, earning his place in India's squad for the Afghanistan ODI series. Coming back into the setup, the young batter had a lot to prove. 

However, when he was given an opportunity ahead of high-profile contemporaries Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant, he made the most of it and silenced his critics.

While he scored 34 runs off 22 balls in the first ODI against Afghanistan, he truly showcased his batting prowess in the second ODI by smashing a blistering 125 off just 79 deliveries. Interestingly, it was his second ODI century.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the left-hander crossed the 1,000-run milestone in ODIs during the knock. 

Moreover, he carried forward his rich vein of form from the T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he amassed 317 runs.

Therefore, his outstanding performance in the Afghanistan series could prove to be a significant step towards securing a place in India's squad for the 2027 World Cup.

Rohit Sharma 

The right-handed batter, who has his eyes set on making the trip for the 2027 World Cup, has done everything possible to remain in contention, whether through maintaining his fitness or producing valuable performances with the bat. The former Indian captain has consistently let his bat do the talking.

Although questions regarding his ODI future have surfaced due to him turning 40 next year, Rohit Sharma responded in typical fashion. In the first two ODIs against Afghanistan, he registered scores of 16 off 16 balls and 48 off 39 balls respectively.

However, it was in the final ODI against Afghanistan that he truly roared back into form at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Despite surviving a nervy start, the veteran opener went on to score an impressive 79 runs and stitched together a 170-run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Furthermore, with a wealth of experience behind him, having played 277 ODI innings and scored 11,720 runs, Rohit continues to be one of India's most dependable batters in the format. Therefore, it appears that the former Indian captain has all but confirmed his ticket for the ODI World Cup.

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