Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi going to be in India’s ODI mix a lot: Shubman Gill

India captain Shubman Gill has indicated that young pacers Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi are likely to be part of the team’s ODI plans in the period leading up to the 2027 World Cup.

Gill’s comments came after India’s ODI series against the West Indies, where the batting department produced strong numbers but the bowling unit came under pressure.

India’s batting mainstays Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored five centuries across the series. However, the bowling department struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.

India used six different seam-bowling options across the three matches, with the group sharing eight wickets. The attack lacked a settled combination and a proven leader across different phases of the innings.

The concern became more evident in the final ODI in New Chandigarh, where the West Indies successfully chased 352 runs, recording a major run chase.

Gill admitted that India does not have much time left to experiment before the 2027 World Cup. The team therefore needs to identify its best combinations and ensure that its key players return to the playing XI.

The India captain also suggested that Kamboj and Nabi could have an important role in the ODI setup going forward.

With the next ODI series against New Zealand approaching, India will look to strengthen its bowling options and establish a more settled combination.

The absence of Bumrah has highlighted the need for India to develop reliable alternatives, while the emergence of younger options such as Kamboj and Nabi could provide the team with greater depth.

For India, the immediate challenge will be to balance experimentation with the need to build a dependable squad well ahead of the 2027 World Cup.