ODI World Cup 2023: 10 in-form players who might not play in 2027

Rohit Sharma (Photo Source: Twitter)

The World Cup 2023 ended with Australia beating India by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium and lifting the coveted trophy for the sixth time. In Australia’s scintillating campaign, their veterans Glenn Maxwell and David Warner looked spunky with their bats and made essential contributions. 

Along with these two Aussies, the India skipper Rohit Sharma also performed exceptionally. The 36-year-old provided blistering starts to his side consistently in the competition which helped India reach the final.

The recently concluded ODI event might become the last World Cup appearance for some of these in-form legends as their age and fitness might obstruct them from playing in the World Cup 2027 to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. 

Here are the 10 players who might not play 2027 World Cup:   

10. Rassie van der Dussen

South Africa’s campaign ended with a three-wicket loss to Australia in the semi-final at Eden Gardens but their journey will be remembered for their batters’ dominating show. Rassie van der Dussen, whose responsibility was to solodify the top order, looked great with his bat.

Notching up 448 runs in 10 games at a fine average of 49.77, he became the second-leading run-getter for the Proteas. South Africa kicked off their journey with a convincing 102-run win over Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and van der Dussen became the leading run-getter with 108 off 110.    

In the comprehensive 190-run victory against New Zealand in Pune, he stepped up with his bat again with a century. van der Dussen, who is 34 years old, might not get a chance to play in the next World Cup for South Africa, in case, he fails to maintain consistency with his bat.

9. Adil Rashid

England failed to defend their title under Jos Buttler, winning only three off their nine matches. Throughout the tournament, their experienced stalwarts Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Buttler looked out of rhythm but Adil Rashid justified his role with the ball.

Leading the spin-bowling unit, the leggie grabbed 15 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 5.18 and ended up as the highest wicket-taker for the English side. As a lone frontline spinner, he delivered solid spells to his side in huge games against India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

After the World Cup debacle, the England Cricket Board (ECB) will look to drop some veterans to introduce new names in England’s ODI side. The 35-year-old Rashid might also be left out of the squad in this process despite his decent performance in the ODI competition with age not being on his side.

8. Trent Boult

Trent Boult made a comeback in New Zealand’s ODI team for the World Cup 2023. Spearheading the Kiwi side’s pace attack confidently, he claimed 14 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 5.53. In mainstay pacer Matt Henry’s absence, the veteran utilised his experience and displayed his potential with the ball once again.

New Zealand bagged a five-wicket win in the must-win contest against Sri Lanka and Boult delivered a thrifty and wicket-taking spell for his team. The pacer registered 3/37 figures in his 10 overs picking up the prized scalps of Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Charith Asalanka on a batting-friendly surface.

The 34-year-old Boult, who doesn’t appear in international cricket regularly, might not get a chance to represent New Zealand again in the World Cup. With the pacer not being a regular member of the one-day side, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will find Boult’s alternative in the upcoming years. 

7. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami looked sensational for India in the World Cup 2023, bagging 24 wickets in just seven matches at an economy of 5.26. With these numbers, he also ended up as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Shami became a part of India’s playing XI against New Zealand in Dharamshala after Hardik Pandya’s injury, 

The paceman grabbed a fifer and guided the Men in Blue to a fabulous four-wicket victory on the very first match he played. He picked up another fifer in India’s humongous 302-run win and became the highest wicket-taker for India in the World Cup, surpassing Zaheer Khan (44 wickets in 23 matches) and Javagal Srinath (44 wickets in 34 matches). 

In the massive semi-final game, he chipped in with 7/57 figures and became the first Indian bowler to reach 50 wickets in ODI World Cups. Indian cricket team fans will want to see 33-year-old Shami in the next World Cup installment but considering his age, it might become difficult for the veteran to be a part of India’s 2027 campaign.

6. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja supported India’s bowling attack excellently with his left-arm spin bowling, scalping 16 wickets in 11 contests at an economy of 4.25. With the bat, he contributed 120 runs to the side in five innings at a fine average of 40.

His best bowling innings came against South Africa at Eden Gardens in India’s 243-run win over as he clinched five wickets in nine overs and also played a swift innings of 29 off just 15. Jadeja has featured in three World Cups, thus far, from 2015-2023. His supporters will expect him to be with the team in the World Cup 2027.

On the fitness scale, Jadeja is exceptional but his age might hamper his chances of becoming a part of India’s World Cup 2027 team. Currently, the star all-rounder is 34 and it will be a challenge for him to maintain fitness and form. In case, he fails to maintain either of the two, the team management will not hesitate in inducting a young face in the team.  

5. Mahmudullah

Bangladesh put up a disappointing show for their fans in the World Cup 2023. However, the Bangla side’s one of the senior stalwarts Mahmudullah ended the competition on a high note. Notching up 328 runs in seven innings of eight contests, he ended up as the leading run-getter for his side in the tournament.

Mahmudullah has been active in international cricket since 2007 and has appeared in four World Cups in his 16-year ODI career. The veteran played 25 matches in the World Cup, in which he accumulated 944 runs in 22 innings, with three tons and three half-centuries.

Mahmudullah, 37, was the oldest player in Bangladesh’s World Cup 2023 squad and he might announce his retirement anytime. This World Cup was most probably the last major ICC ODI event of his vast career. 

4. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell struggled to be among the runs in the initial matches of the World Cup 2023 but against the Netherlands in Delhi, he notched up a 40-ball century and became the batter with the fastest World Cup ton. Riding on his extraordinary innings, Australia registered a 309-run triumph, the biggest World Cup win (by runs).

After the swift ton, Maxwell took Afghanistan’s bowling attack to the cleaners and scored an unprecedented 201 off just 128 in Mumbai. The 35-year-old made 400 runs with two centuries in nine contests In Australia’s sixth title win. His strike rate was 150.37 in the blockbuster event. 

Maxwell is an illustrious name in ODI cricket but his inconsistency with the bat might not allow him to continue in the disciplined Aussie team until 2027.  The veteran middle-order batter’s age might also go against him.

3. David Warner

Along with Maxwell, the Aussie opener David Warner was also receiving severe criticism for failing to do wonders in the initial stage of the tournament. The southpaw rfoud his form at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with his 163-run knock off 124 deliveries and helped his team hammer Pakistan by 62 runs.

Warner continued his magnificent form in the next two matches with his knocks of 104 (93) and 81 (65) against the Netherlands and New Zealand, respectively. The 37-year-old ended up with 535 runs in 11 matches and emerged as Australia’s most successful batter in the competition.  

In June 2023, Warner announced that he would finish his Test career after playing the Sydney Test against Pakistan in January 2024. Noting this announcement, it can be said that the dashing opener might hang up his boots before the World Cup 2027 as he is already 37 and was struggling to be at his best before the ODI event played in India.

2. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli became the recipient of the Player of the Tournament award for his stunning batting display for India in the competition. He chalked up 765 runs with three tons and six fifties in 11 matches and ended up as the highest run-scorer in the marquee event. He also shattered Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most ODI tons during the tournament.

His batting numbers in the competition also made him the only batter to hit 700+ runs in a single World Cup edition. In the final against the Aussies at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he scored a half-century but could not convert it into a big score which cost India at the end of the contest.

Kohli’s supporters will expect him to appear for India in the next World Cup as no one can doubt his fitness. However, the star batter’s form will be noted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and if he fails to maintain it, selectors might consider replacing him with a young player.

1. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma led India from the front but could not win the distinguished trophy for his side. In 11 outings, he hit 597 runs and ended up as the second-leading run-scorer in the tournament. The India captain kicked off the competition with a duck against Australia in Chennai but after that game, he did not turn back and went on to deliver some sensational knocks to his team.

In both knockout contests, he produced rapid innings from his bat and stood as a wall against the opponents. However, his amazing batting efforts and incredible captaincy were not enough to win the trophy and now, he might end his ODI career without a World Cup title. 

The 36-year-old Rohit is in superb form with his bat nowadays but his fitness might impede him from participating in the next World Cup to be played after four years. Along with fitness, maintaining form will also be a challenge for him to be in India’s World Cup 2027 squad.