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3 Indian cricketers who should play ODIs more often

With the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 looming in South Africa, India’s selectors face a critical task: identifying and refining their core squad before the tournament. Three players stand out as candidates for increased ODI opportunities in the coming bilateral series, where they could solidify their roles ahead of the high-pressure event.

Axar Patel, a dual-format all-rounder, has proven his worth with a career average of 23.53 in 74 ODIs, including a standout performance against England in July 2026—where he scored an unbeaten 57 and took 4/62 to earn Player of the Match. His recent consistency has positioned him ahead of Ravindra Jadeja in the spin-bowling all-rounder role, but more frequent game time could further cement his place in the lineup for South Africa’s challenging conditions, where bounce and seam are key factors.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy, a 23-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder, has shown early promise in just eight ODIs, scoring 109 runs at an average of 27.25, including a top score of 53. Though his ODI sample size remains small, his Test record—396 runs and eight wickets in 10 matches—suggests potential, and selectors may need more data to assess his suitability for the World Cup.

Finally, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, faces a balancing act as workload management becomes critical ahead of the tournament. His fitness and rhythm will be pivotal, and increased ODI appearances could help sustain his peak form across formats as the team prepares for South Africa’s demanding pitches.

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