BCCI identifies backup for Shreyas Iyer ahead of Cricket World Cup 2027; Know here

Shreyas Iyer has been India’s best batter in middle-order in ODIs of late.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 may still be more than a year away, but India’s preparations for the tournament have already started to take shape. With the next global competition scheduled to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the Indian management have set in motion their efforts to recognise an ideal squad which ensures a perfect combination with depth across all positions. 

One of the biggest priorities will be maintaining stability in the batting order. India have heavily relied on experienced batters in recent years, but selectors have now reportedly started to consider younger players with a fair record to step into the shoes of their seniors. This, for now, seems like a measure to manage concerns like injuries and workload management, but from another point of view, it might be an effort to quench India’s need for long-term stability in the batting order. 

One of the most consistent names in the Indian middle order remains Shreyas Iyer, who was also named the vice-captain of the Indian team. The right-handed batter bats at no. 4 and provides great stability with his calm and composed innings. However, India’s planning for the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup seems to be a bit more than just selecting the first-choice players. 

Tilak Varma’s name surfaces as Shreyas Iyer’s backup – Reports

According to a recent report by the Times of India, Tilak Varma is being viewed by the Indian management as a potential backup for Shreyas Iyer for 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. Tilak might be called in under situations of very poor performance from Iyer or a probable injury concern.

Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in India’s 2023 World Cup campaign while batting in that middle order. He has been consistently performing across the two formats of limited-overs cricket; however, this recent development suggests that selectors might be looking to build depth around Iyer rather than depending solely on a single player. 

“Coach Gautam Gambhir & captain Shubman Gill feel there isn’t any backup ready for middle order. With Hardik Pandya & Nitish Kumar Reddy being prone to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI,” said a BCCI source.

Tilak has established himself as a prominent and crucial part of the Indian T20I side. Though his role in recent games has shifted after Ishan Kishan’s arrival, he remains one of India’s most progressive batters, hence drawing attention from ODI cricket as well. 

Iyer is expected to still continue to be India’s first-choice middle-order batter. He has played seven ODI matches on South African soil only to return with 154 runs, averaging just 25.66, with a single half-century to his name.

Tilak, on the other hand, has played just five ODI matches in his short career for India, of which three were on South African soil, where he amassed 63 runs across three innings and scored his maiden ODI half-century. However, the batter holds an exceptional batting record in South Africa, where he scored two centuries when playing for India in the shortest format of the game. 

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