Virat Kohli pushed to partner Rohit Sharma as opener in 2027 World Cup

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called for a massive change in the Indian team ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Considering Ruturaj Gaikwad's spectacular century and Shreyas Iyer's return, he has vouched for Virat Kohli opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma.

India have truly dominated the ODI format since the return of their two veterans, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Rohit played some significant innings in Australia and got a fifty in the opening game against South Africa, Kohli has scored consecutive hundreds for India in the home series against South Africa.

However, other than these two stars, two other cricketers put on performances a class apart from them: Shreyas Iyer in Australia and now his replacement, Ruturaj Gaikwad, in India. Gaikwad, who recently scored a century, has been notched as an essential part of the Indian playing XI, but with Shreyas Iyer's return, his chances are a major uncertainty.

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Virat Kohli asked to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma

Ahead of the South Africa series, Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to an injury suffered during the Australia tour. Ruturaj Gaikwad was called in as his replacement following his terrific form with India A in the unofficial competition.

The rest, as we all know, is history, as Gaikwad smashed a stunning maiden ODI hundred in Raipur and is likely to take his good form forward to Vishakhapatnam as well. With reports suggesting Shreyas Iyer might miss the New Zealand series as well, Gaikwad will have more chances to prove his calibre to the Indian management.

To solve the confusion and uncertainty around Gaikwad's position, Virat Kohli has been advised to be slotted in the role of an opener alongside Rohit Sharma. This advice came from Ravichandran Ashwin, following Yashasvi Jaiswal's poor show with the bat.

"I don't know who would open; I would ideally like, why not, Virat? Virat opened the batting in T20 cricket, if he can open with Rohit, then both Ruturaj and Shreyas come into the XI," says Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ravi Ashwin: In the 2027 World Cup, I would ideally like Rohit and Virat to open, with Ruturaj at 3 and Shreyas at 4.😭🔥

Ash paa cooking 😂

pic.twitter.com/dmfwuNkWUl

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) December 5, 2025

Former teammate kicks Shubman Gill aside while naming World Cup probabilities

While Ravichandran Ashwin made an attempt to replace Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Indian top order, considering his poor patch of form, and insisted on ways to have both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer in the same playing XI, he has completely missed the presence of one of India's most essential players.

The Indian team has totally depended on Shubman Gill as the next leader of the ODI side. Though Gill missed out on this occasion due to an injury to his neck, he is making his comeback with the T20I series against South Africa and will also be part of the New Zealand home series.

With Shubman Gill back, he will be back to opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will most likely be snubbed. However, this also poses a challenge for Ruturaj Gaikwad, since he would then only be left as a contender for the fourth position in the batting order.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer together can strengthen India's middle-order to the core

Likely, Shreyas Iyer is not just some middle-order option for India; he is India's vice-captain and the best batter on show. Shreyas has played international cricket for nearly double the time Gaikwad has and has been an unbreakable part of India's ODI pursuits.

But Ruturaj Gaikwad is surely one of the players whom India would depend on in the middle order, especially in the post-Rohit-Virat era; hence, he should be provided the maximum amount of game time before the two veterans call quits on their careers.

"You are going to South Africa for the 2027 World Cup; if Shreyas Iyer comes back, he is a quality bona fide no. 4. Ruturaj Gaikwad can also be used if Rohit and Virat can open the innings," Ashwin had opined.

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