‘South Africa for me are the No. 1 side’ – Shreevats Goswami picks Proteas as ODI World Cup 2027 favourites

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia with a 14-team format, scheduled from October 4 to November 21, 2027. Namibia will host the tournament for the first time in its history. As the tournament approaches, former India wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami has offered his assessment of the leading contenders for the global event.

Goswami ranked South Africa as the primary favourite for the World Cup, followed by India in second position. He also mentioned that Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be highly motivated to finish their international careers on a high during the marquee event.

“South Africa for me are the No.1 side for the World Cup. India would be No. 2, and of course, you can never write off New Zealand in any World Cup. For Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, this could be their last World Cup, and they will be pumped and motivated to finish on a high,” Goswami said while speaking about India’s chances on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

South Africa’s quest for a maiden title

South Africa have not won an ODI World Cup despite their strong performances throughout the tournament’s history. The Proteas have reached the knockouts on multiple occasions but have never claimed the title. Goswami’s assessment places them as the team to beat in the 2027 edition, with the former wicketkeeper backing their chances to finally break their World Cup drought when the tournament begins in October 2027.

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India’s immediate focus

India’s next assignment comes in the form of a three-match ODI series against West Indies at home, starting on Sunday, September 27, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. This series will provide an opportunity for the Indian team to build momentum and fine-tune their preparations ahead of the World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa are engaged in a home series against Australia, continuing their own preparations for the global tournament. They have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first ODI by 67 runs at Kingsmead, Durban.