3 Indian cricketers who should play ODIs more often

The ICC ODI World Cup 2027 is expected to be held in South Africa, and with less than a year remaining, India's team management faces important selection decisions. Bilateral series in the months ahead offer a valuable window to give certain players the ODI exposure they require.

Finding the right combination early will allow India to build continuity and assess each player's suitability for South African conditions. Three cricketers in particular deserve more regular ODI opportunities between now and the tournament.

Here are the 3 Indian cricketers who should play ODIs more often:

3. Axar Patel

Axar Patel has been among India's more consistent performers when given the chance in ODIs. In 74 matches, he has scored 918 runs at an average of 23.53 and taken 75 wickets, demonstrating his value across both departments.

His most recent ODI appearance came on July 14, 2026, against England, when he produced one of the standout individual performances of the series. He scored an unbeaten 57 off 52 balls and took 4/62, earning the Player of the Match award as India won by 6 wickets with 28 balls remaining. That display made him the third Indian in ODI history to score a half-century and take four wickets in the same match against England, joining Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya.

He also became the fourth Indian to win a Player of the Match award against England across all three formats, after Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. India's ODI setup currently places Axar ahead of Ravindra Jadeja in the spin-bowling all-rounder role, and consistent game time would help cement that pecking order before the World Cup.