Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan believes the three ODIs against Afghanistan starting Saturday will serve as the ideal series for the team management to assess the team combination ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Pathan said that with the World Cup happening in South Africa, India should pick the right players best suited for those conditions, and pacer Gurnoor Brar’s selection is aimed at preparing for the pace and bounce in South African conditions.
“Gurnoor Brar has been selected because the Indian management wants a bowler who can exploit the pace and bounce expected on South African pitches in the 2027 World Cup. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, he gets natural extra bounce,” Pathan said on Jio Hotstar.
He also backed Ishan Kishan as a valuable option for the World Cup, looking at his ability to play short-pitched bowling and his versatility as a batter and wicketkeeper.
“Ishan Kishan fits that role perfectly. He plays the short ball well, scores square of the wicket, and can serve as a backup opener, a backup at number three behind Virat, and a backup wicketkeeper,” he said.
Pathan said fast-bowling allrounders will play a key role in South Africa and said players like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube should get more opportunities in ODIs ahead of the World Cup.
On Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pathan said their contrasting strengths could prove decisive for India when the World Cup is around.
“Rohit Sharma’s biggest strength is his ability to handle short-pitched bowling. He has exceptional timing and gets into position early. In South Africa, where bowlers get both swing and extra bounce, Rohit is the ideal batter to punish anything short,” he said.
“Coming to Virat Kohli, he brings immense experience to the middle order. In ODIs, no one does it better than him. Batting at number three, his records speak for themselves. If India lose an early wicket, he is the man to rebuild the innings. He loves batting long, and when it comes to chasing, he is the best in the world.”
