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Kohli Conundrum Non-Existent; India Have Bigger Issues To Resolve Before 2027 World Cup

Debashis Sarangi

Questions have been raised over Virat Kohli's ODI spot [Source: AFP]Questions have been raised over Virat Kohli's ODI spot [Source: AFP]

A goal without a plan is just a wish. 

Whenever a person wants to achieve something in life, he must prepare accordingly, as proactiveness is the key to success. The lack of proper planning eventually narrows the possibility of a precise execution, turning his desired goal into an unfulfilled wish. 

The situation of the current Indian team seems perfectly contextual in accordance with the aforementioned synopsis as they start their preparations for the 2027 World Cup. 

But plans must be goal-oriented. And to be really honest, India's recently revealed thought process regarding Virat Kohli, inarguably their greatest match-winner in the 50-over format, could not only disrupt their lineup but also prevent them from assessing issues that are significantly more serious. 

Why should India be the least concerned about Virat Kohli?

14181 runs in 290 innings at an average of 57.9; a greater number of centuries than the God of cricket in ODIs; what more do we need to declare Virat Kohli as India’s greatest batter in the format in the modern-day game? 

While he has been an absolute champion of the 50-over format, his numbers in South Africa, where India will likely play a majority of their 2027 World Cup matches, are simply astonishing. 

Coming to facts, Kohli has amassed 993 runs, recording one fifty-plus score in every two outings, at a magnificent average of 76.3 on South African soil. The fact that he’s technically India’s most equipped player to bat in those seam-friendly conditions has been proven umpteen times whenever he has toured the rainbow nation. 

Keeping his ability and experience aside, do India still have an equally good alternative for Virat Kohli? All they have discovered so far are two fine talents- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill; two openers who have yet to be tested enough in South African conditions. 

In such a scenario, the debate regarding Kohli’s place in India’s World Cup XI seems forced, not genuine. 

What about the perennial Pandya headache?

Indeed, the horrors of 19th November 2023 are no less devastating than an apocalypse for India’s passionate fanbase. But if we dare revisit that edition of the World Cup, what haunted India, barring KL Rahul’s sluggish knock and a terrible lower-middle-order mishap, was an unfortunate injury to Hardik Pandya, which ruled him out midway through the tournament. 

Pandya has been India’s first-choice seam-bowling all-rounder in white-ball cricket over the years. But considering his career has frequently been hit by injuries, isn’t it the team management’s job to prepare his backup before a crucial ICC event? 

Any sane person’s answer to the above question would be a confident ‘yes’; now face a tricky one: do India have a quality replacement for Pandya whom they can bring in if the all-rounder gets injured in the 2027 World Cup? 

The answer is a big ‘no’. Funnily enough, it’s been almost two years since India suffered the consequences of Pandya’s injury in a World Cup final at home, failing to realise its impact and showing incredible lethargy in resolving it at the ground level. 

Jaiswal, Gill And Who? Do India Have An Answer?

With Rohit Sharma nearing his retirement, India have two excellent options in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, whom they can allot the opening slots in the 2027 World Cup. But it’s well-known that whenever a team sends its contingent for an ICC event, it’s a ritual to include a backup opener, keeping a potential injury or decline in form of one of the openers in mind. 

Now, coming to the Indian team, does the Gautam Gambhir-led think tank have a backup for these two players? We reckon it doesn’t. Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Sai Sudharsan are two definite options, but they don’t have plenty of ODI games under their belt. 

If India are actually serious about forming a settled core for the World Cup, the discussions should involve how they can bring these two players into the mix and ensure ample game time for them in ODIs amid packed cricketing seasons. 

You must remember the 2019 World Cup edition when an injury to Shikhar Dhawan disrupted India’s settled combination, exposing their undercooked middle-order in the testing English conditions. India paid the price for not finding a suitable number four back then, and it will be unfathomable if they don’t learn from their past mistakes this time around. 

The Bumrah Puzzle: An Elephant In The Room For India

Jasprit Bumrah is India’s national treasure; the exact words of Virat Kohli still stand true as the fast bowler faces steady backlash for missing crucial international games due to workload management. Honestly, people haven’t left a single chance to pounce on the speedster, while, in reality, he has bowled only 29-odd overs less than the lion-hearted Mohammed Siraj, despite battling multiple injury setbacks. 

Bumrah’s fitness is a real concern, and we have to give the Indian management a pat on its back for managing it masterfully. 

However, the real question is, can a 33-year-old Bumrah stay fit for a long World Cup season? What if he breaks down mid-tournament? Do we have experienced pacers to compensate for him? The answer, unfortunately, is no. 

Leave Kohli Aside, Focus On Real Problems

Thus, there are several core issues that the Men in Blue must address before the World Cup. A player of Virat Kohli’s calibre doesn’t really need attention, but the problems stated above do. 

The question marks are plenty in number, but India still have the luxury of time to find suitable answers. All they need to do is pull up their socks and address the loopholes with absolute honesty, because as the legend goes, ‘it’s always better late than never’.