As the curve of the horizon bends towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, the chessboard is already being set for the cricket pitch. While the headline acts of India's top order and pace battery will always dominate the conversation, a high-stakes, low-profile chess game has already begun.
The mystery surrounding India's spin bowling conundrum shows no signs of resolving itself, and with veteran anchor Ravindra Jadeja needing dependable backup to strangle oppositions down the order, a ruthless audition for the seats on the flight to South Africa has already begun.
Three vastly different Indian spin all-rounders are currently circling the throne:
1.Axar Patel
Out of the competition, Axar Patel towers over the rest as India's mainstay. Having amassed 80 wickets in 74 ODIs with an average of 32.73, his inclusion in the preliminary 15-man touring party is a foregone conclusion. The left-arm orthodox has blossomed into a reliable all-rounder with two ODI half-centuries to his credit in the last 12 months of 2025.
Speculation swirls around the seasoned campaigner already, as he has been identified as India's primary spinner for the South African decks. However, while his stock has never been higher, it remains to be seen how far the young pretenders can force him out of the reckoning over the coming months.
2. Washington Sundar
Where Axar offers the security of a seasoned campaigner, Washington Sundar brings a different dimension to the table. Providing a unique off-spinning option at a time when India has an embarrassment of riches in left-armers, the 24-year-old has proven himself a consistent performer with the ball in hand, taking 30 wickets in 34 ODIs while maintaining an economy rate of less than 5.00.
At the same time, he has also been a thorn in the side of left-handed batters with his ability to pierce through with the ball. Sundar, however, has been hampered by a chronic injury layoff, which saw him miss the second ODI against England due to a hamstring strain at Cardiff. After undergoing scans and treatment, the all-rounder is back in the race as he bids to stake his claim at the World Cup.
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3. Harsh Dubey
Controversy tends to follow any player who enters the fray at the expense of a sidelined rival. And, with the news of Sundar's injury, Harsh Dubey was an unwelcome name that was thrust into the limelight as the man who replaced Washington Sundar for the third ODI against England at Lord's.
In a career that has been plagued by inconsistency, Dubey has been handed a golden opportunity to prove himself on the grand stage. The 23-year-old has been in scintillating form for his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he has picked up eight wickets in eight games with the ball in hand while hitting an astonishing strike rate of 144.44 with the bat. Following his remarkable spell of 3/12 against the Delhi Capitals and a tight 2/18 against the Lucknow, the rookie has been given the green light to stake his claim.
The battle for the backup spinner's berth has just begun as the Indian selectors scrutinize their options for the World Cup qualifiers. As the dust settles on the South African pitches in 2027, these three men will be at the forefront as they aim to complement their veteran campaigners with performances of a different calibre.