Ajinkya Rahane picks five-member pace attack for 2027 World Cup, leaves out Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana

Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane has named his preferred five-member pace attack for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, sparking considerable debate around several notable exclusions. Rahane's chosen quintet comprises Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Mayank Yadav.

The selection means that Harshit Rana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Gurnoor Brar all miss out on Rahane's preferred pace group for the tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, 2027.

Why does Mayank Yadav's inclusion stand out?

Rahane's decision to include Mayank Yadav is the most striking call in his five-member selection. Yadav has clocked a career-best top speed of 156.7 kmph and is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in Indian cricket. However, he has not yet featured in a single ODI, with his international experience limited to 11 T20Is to date. Picking an uncapped ODI pacer ahead of established names makes this the most talked-about aspect of Rahane's preferred attack.

Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna have both been regular features in India's ODI setup in recent months, which makes their inclusion relatively straightforward. Arshdeep has taken 30 wickets in 18 ODIs at an economy rate under six and is also India's highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, with 148 scalps in 101 games. Siraj, despite finding himself out of the team at various points, still earns a place in Rahane's attack.

Who are the four big names left out and why does it matter?

The exclusion of Harshit Rana is arguably the biggest surprise in Rahane's selection. Rana has been highly productive in the 50-over format, averaging close to two wickets per ODI game. He has collected 26 wickets across 14 ODI matches and has also demonstrated his value as a lower-order batter, having struck a half-century in the format. Rana made his international debut during the Perth Test against Australia in November 2024 and has since built a strong case for inclusion.

Mohammed Shami's omission carries its own weight given his record in ODI World Cups. Shami is India's highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history, having claimed 55 wickets at an average of 13.52. His last international appearance came during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, meaning he has been absent from the international scene for a considerable period.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India's T20I side on October 6, 2026, after a gap of four years, but Rahane has not found room for him among his five preferred pacers. Gurnoor Brar, who has been a consistent presence in India's ODI squads of late, also does not feature in Rahane's chosen attack.