India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that the team will begin serious planning for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup once the Indian Premier League 2026 season ends.
India recently won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating New Zealand national cricket team in the final on March 8. With that success, the focus of the Indian team management has now shifted to the next major ICC event.
Speaking after the victory, Gambhir said that the preparations for the 2027 tournament must start early. He believes the team will not have many ODI matches before the big event, so proper planning is necessary.
“The planning for the 2027 World Cup will start after the IPL. There are 25 to 30 ODIs between IPL 2026 and the World Cup. This format is not played a lot these days. The earlier we start planning, the better it will be for us,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today.
India Begin Early Preparation for 2027 ODI World Cup
The 2027 World Cup will be played in South Africa along with co-hosts Zimbabwe and Namibia. Gambhir said that playing in South Africa will not be easy because of the conditions and pitches.
“South Africa is not an easy place to play cricket. We have to figure out combinations and identify the players who are suited to the conditions. The selectors and the coaches will do that. By the time IPL 2026 ends, India will have a blueprint for the ODI World Cup 2027,” Gambhir added.
Another major topic is the future of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both players have shown interest in playing the 2027 World Cup.
Kohli is currently in great form. He has scored three centuries in six matches against New Zealand national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team.
Rohit’s form has been quieter, but he is still eager to score runs. Both stars will now turn their attention to the IPL, where Kohli will play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rohit will represent Mumbai Indians.
