Shubman Gill: Planning 2027 World Cup with Kohli, India’s ODI captain has strongly defended the 50-over format, arguing it should not be reduced to 40 overs. Speaking before the first ODI against England at Edgbaston, Gill called the 50-over World Cup the most prestigious tournament in cricket, rooted in his childhood memories. Instead of altering the format, he proposed reviving triangular or quadrangular series to make bilateral matches more exciting for fans and players.
Gill explained that multi-nation tournaments, like the India-Australia-Sri Lanka triangular series of the past, offer variety by pitting teams against different opponents at different venues. This, he believes, could boost interest in ODIs. India enters the three-match series after a tough white-ball stretch, including a 2-0 loss in Ireland and a 4-0 T20I defeat to England.
The young captain also praised the women’s team for their historic 270-run Test win at Lord’s. Looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Gill revealed he has already begun planning with Virat Kohli. They discussed the ideal squad combination for South African conditions, including which bowlers, all-rounders, and spinners might be needed.
Gill welcomed Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the ODI squad after a break to manage his workload following IPL 2026. He expressed hope that Bumrah’s preparation would help India win the series and end on a high note. With a clear vision for the future, Shubman Gill: Planning 2027 World Cup with Kohli signals a focused approach to building a winning team.