📅July 22 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
Three consecutive 1–2 away series defeats have exposed India’s unsettled middle order, fragile all-rounder depth and a pace attack that takes wickets but struggles to control the scoring rate.
India’s 1–2 ODI series defeat in England has added to a worrying sequence. Since June 2025, India have lost away ODI series against Australia, New Zealand and England by the same margin. The pattern now looks structural rather than accidental.
India’s Top Order Is Carrying an Unsustainable Load
India’s ODI batting since January 2026 has been defined by one clear contrast: the top three continue to provide strong starts, but the middle order has repeatedly failed to convert those foundations into match-winning totals.
Virat Kohli has been India’s most consistent scorer in this phase, while Shubman Gill has continued to provide stability at the top. Rohit Sharma struggled against New Zealand but responded with a commanding 138 at Lord’s. Together, the senior top-order group has continued to absorb most of the scoring responsibility.
Top order: stable and productive
Gill, Rohit and Kohli have regularly provided the bulk of India’s runs, with individual averages and strike rates still among the strongest in the team.
Middle order: unstable and reactive
Once the top three are dismissed, India frequently lose momentum, depend on KL Rahul to repair the innings and ask all-rounders to perform specialist batting roles.
| Batter | 2026 ODI output | Recent role | Key concern or strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | About 350 runs | Top-order anchor | India’s most consistent run-scorer in 2026 |
| Shubman Gill | About 292 runs | Opener and captain | Provides stable starts and tempo |
| Rohit Sharma | About 200 runs | Aggressive opener | Inconsistent overall, but produced 138 at Lord’s |
| KL Rahul | About 190-plus runs | Middle-order anchor | India’s main insurance after top-order wickets |
| Shreyas Iyer | About 100-plus runs | No. 4/5 batter | Form and scoring tempo have dropped sharply |
KL Rahul remains the only consistently reliable middle-order pillar. That makes it even more important to fix him at No. 5 rather than move him according to each match situation.
After Kohli, India Still Lack a Settled Middle Order
India’s middle-order planning still appears reactive. Iyer has struggled for form, Washington has not produced enough runs, Jadeja’s batting impact has declined and Axar has contributed only in patches. Too often, all-rounders are being asked to cover the absence of a specialist middle-order batter.
The repeated use of multiple left-handers in the same phase has also created predictable match-ups for opposition spinners. India do not simply need players who can occupy positions four to seven. They need specialist middle-order batters capable of rebuilding, rotating strike, handling pace and finishing.
Why Vijay Hazare Form Must Matter More
The 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy produced several standout 50-over performances. Aman Mokhade scored 814 runs at an average of 90.44 and a strike rate of 109.26. Devdutt Padikkal made 725 runs at 90.62, while Dhruv Jurel scored 558 runs at an average of 93.00 and a strike rate of 122.91.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aman Mokhade | 10 | 814 | 90.44 | 109.26 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 9 | 725 | 90.62 | 98.24 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 7 | 558 | 93.00 | 122.91 |
| Pukhraj Mann | 7 | 558 | 93.00 | 107.31 |
| Vishvaraj Jadeja | 10 | 545 | 60.56 | 109.00 |
IPL Success Is Not Enough for ODI Selection
The IPL is an elite competition, but it tests T20 skills. A batter scoring quickly on a flat pitch with short boundaries is not automatically ready to bat at No. 5 in an ODI. A four-over bowler is not automatically capable of controlling a ten-over spell across three phases.
Selection must become format-specific
Vijay Hazare Trophy form, List A records, India A tours, overseas white-ball performances and technique against pace and bounce should matter more when building a squad for the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa.
India Can Take Wickets – But Cannot Control the Run Rate
Prasidh Krishna has emerged as the leading wicket-taker in this cycle with 21 wickets in 11 matches. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have taken 16 each. The concern is not whether India can take wickets. It is how many runs they concede while doing so.
| Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prasidh Krishna | 11 | 21 | 6.39 | 28.05 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 9 | 16 | 5.76 | 27.06 |
| Harshit Rana | 9 | 16 | 6.50 | 31.56 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 8 | 13 | 6.15 | 35.46 |
| Gurnoor Brar | 6 | 11 | 7.01 | 32.82 |
| Axar Patel | 6 | 8 | 5.09 | 30.88 |
| Washington Sundar | 10 | 6 | 4.84 | 41.17 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 6 | 5 | 4.74 | 43.60 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 2 | 2 | 4.00 | 38.00 |
Why Siraj and Shami Still Matter to India’s ODI Plans
Siraj’s economy rate of 4.74 in this period is markedly better than the rates recorded by Prasidh, Rana and Gurnoor. Even when his wicket tally is modest, he offers new-ball aggression, major-tournament experience and the ability to sustain pressure.
Shami’s case is strengthened by both experience and recent domestic output. He has more than 200 ODI wickets, was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup and collected 15 wickets in seven matches in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
| Vijay Hazare Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Average | Runs Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankur Panwar | 10 | 25 | 21.32 | 533 |
| Zeeshan Ansari | 8 | 21 | 16.52 | 347 |
| Satyanarayana Raju | 7 | 21 | 16.00 | 336 |
| Yash Thakur | 9 | 19 | 25.58 | 486 |
| Mohammed Shami | 7 | 15 | 24.53 | 368 |
India Still Lack a Genuine Run-Control Spinner
India’s spin attack has not provided the balance expected from a strong ODI side. Kuldeep Yadav remains the main wicket-taking option, but an economy rate of 6.15 in this period shows that he has not consistently controlled the middle overs.
The problem is therefore not a complete absence of spin quality. It is the absence of one spinner who can combine both functions: restrict scoring and take wickets regularly.
For the 2027 World Cup, India need either Kuldeep to regain control or another spinner capable of operating below five runs per over while still threatening set batters. Domestic 50-over form should again matter more than IPL reputation when assessing those options.
Hardik’s Absence Still Breaks India’s Balance
India’s balance still depends heavily on Hardik Pandya. Without him, the side either plays five frontline bowlers with little flexibility or includes a sixth option who may not be capable of completing a full spell.
Axar and Washington provide spin-bowling balance, but neither replaces Hardik’s seam-bowling role. Washington’s economy has been excellent, yet his batting average of 12.11 makes it difficult to treat him as a dependable lower-middle-order solution.
India’s Best Possible XI for the 2027 ODI World Cup
If the World Cup were beginning now, India’s strongest combination should prioritise proven ODI ability, batting depth, six bowling options and experience in southern African conditions.
The biggest uncertainty remains No. 4. Iyer’s established ODI record deserves respect, but his recent average and strike rate cannot be ignored. Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel and other high-performing List A batters should be assessed in their natural roles. Rahul, meanwhile, should remain fixed at No. 5 as the bridge between the top order and the finishers.
Likely reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal or Dhruv Jurel, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar. Prasidh remains a wicket-taking option, but he must improve his economy rate to become a first-choice World Cup bowler.
What India Must Fix Before the 2027 World Cup
Can India Still Win the 2027 World Cup?
Yes, but the current side remains too unstable. India still possess match-winners in Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Bumrah and Kuldeep. The concern is whether the selectors can build a complete ODI team around them.
The England defeat should be treated as a selection warning, not merely another bilateral loss. India have enough talent to win the 2027 World Cup. The real question is whether the management can distinguish between a talented cricketer and a complete 50-over player.
