Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared insights on how India may configure their bowling lineup for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. He suggests that the team balance could lead to a reconsideration of the traditional approach of selecting two spinners.
Ashwin believes India may opt for just one specialist spinner in the playing XI, likely deciding between Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. He points out that having two frontline spinners might disrupt the overall team balance, particularly as the side also requires a spin-bowling all-rounder who can bat.
“If you play two spinners—Kuldeep and Varun—then one of them has to bat at number eight. This makes it tough to include both in the lineup. They can be part of the squad, but we also need a spin-batter like Axar, Jadeja, or Sundar. The decision should lean towards one specialist spinner,” Ashwin explained on his YouTube channel, Ash ki Baat.
Ashwin emphasized the need to manage Chakravarthy’s playtime to maintain his effectiveness. He believes the mystery spinner’s unpredictability is key, and too much exposure could diminish his impact.
“I still suggest that using Varun less is better. He needs to be utilized wisely to keep that novelty factor intact. I appreciated that they rested him recently,” he added.
In addition to Kuldeep and Chakravarthy, Ashwin noted the value of spin-bowling all-rounders like Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, as they provide flexibility with both bat and ball in ODIs.
Ashwin also praised Abhishek Sharma, indicating that the young opener could become a valuable spin option if he focuses on improving his bowling skills.
“Abhishek has skill as a bowler and shows good variety. He has great potential. However, many batters tend to neglect their bowling to focus on batting… I hope Abhishek continues to develop his bowling, as he could be an excellent spin-bowling all-rounder for India in the future,” Ashwin stated.
