Former India player Aakash Chopra has added that the Men in Blue’s top six in the 2027 ODI World Cup would be the same as the one in the last edition of the tournament. He stated that Hardik Pandya’s importance at No. 6, claiming that he has never seen the all-rounder lacking form. India registered a 2-1 win in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies as well. Hardik wasn’t part of the team due to fitness issues as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “When I look at the batting order, there is no difference seen between 2023 and 2027. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are your two openers, who were there in 2023 as well. Both are in good form, and I am hoping they remain in good form till the World Cup. Virat Kohli at No. 3. I don’t feel there will be any dip in his form for you to have a conversation.”

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“I am extremely confident about Shreyas Iyer. He is one of the finest middle-order batters in modern-day ODI cricket. KL Rahul at No. 5 – no conversation whatsoever. Hardik Pandya at No. 6. He is the only one with that quality of skill set. I have never seen him in bad form. Hardik Pandya is critical at No. 6,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra added that Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner for the backup batter’s position.

“You will need a backup batter and keeper. You also need an opener and a middle-order batter. Only one guy does that job. That’s Ishan Kishan. Currently, Ishan Kishan is ahead of everyone else in that race. He is No. 1 in that ranking. He is one guy who fits every single bill,” he said.

“There are two or three other names here. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is an out-and-out opener, but will you sacrifice something else for an opener? Ruturaj Gaikwad, once again a middle-order batter and an opener, but the wicketkeeper option is still vacant. So Ishan Kishan automatically ticks all the boxes,” Chopra concluded.