Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that the Indian team would want a seam bowler who can contribute with the bat at No. 8 in the 2027 ODI World Cup as well. He added that Anshul Kamboj would be ahead of Auqib Nabi in that race in case Harshit Rana isn’t available. However, Rana missed the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies due to injury. Kamboj and Nabi played a game apiece in the three-match series as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “You have used three bowlers who can provide you with batting at No. 8. You have taken an oath that you need a batter at No. 8, and I do agree. If we look at it from that perspective, Harshit Rana is the frontrunner. He is slightly expensive at times, but he is a wicket-taker. I am putting a stamp in Harshit Rana’s favour.”
“However, his issue is the same as Hardik’s. He is having big layoffs. So, who then? It’s a struggle. Two names, because only two have been used. One is Anshul Kamboj, and the other is Auqib Nabi. The sample size is a match apiece, but when you see the way they bowl, Anshul Kamboj is slightly ahead. Anshul Kamboj has a bit more from an ODI cricket perspective,” he further added.
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However, Aakash Chopra added that while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna are nearly confirmed in the bowling attack, India might not be able to accommodate Washington Sundar if they add Nitish Kumar Reddy as a second seam-bowling allrounder.
“Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav are no-brainers. Don’t talk about them at all. They should be part of your team. Put Prasidh Krishna in that list. You still have questions to answer. If you keep Nitish Kumar Reddy, you won’t be able to look toward Washington Sundar,” he said.
“There could be a call between a fifth pacer and Washington Sundar, or else an extra batter. When I look toward the fifth pacer, I feel Gurnoor Brar is slightly ahead at the moment, or is he, because he shouldn’t be. I feel Siraj should be standing with him,” Chopra concluded.
