Irfan Pathan has backed Anshul Kamboj for India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad after the seamer’s 10-2-22-2 at Auckland.
Kamboj took 2/22 from 10 overs in India’s five-wicket win over New Zealand in Wednesday’s rain-hit first ODI, bowling 46 dot balls. His spell helped restrict the hosts to 185. Arshdeep Singh took four wickets and Gurnoor Brar three. India got home with Virat Kohli making 74 off 51, the target revised to 143 in 22.4 overs. The effort earned Kamboj player of the match.
Kamboj, 25, used the break before the New Zealand tour to bowl on an open ground in Karnal, repeating a back-of-a-length routine until it became muscle memory.
Pathan lauded the pacer. “He will be one of the bowlers for sure. What happened during the Test match, we have to understand. It is not easy to play a Test match after travelling,” Pathan said.
Pathan also pointed to Kamboj’s death-bowling skills, including the wide yorkers from around the wicket.
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“You would not be surprised if he keeps going like this. The selectors would be forced to think about him as one of the WC probables. He is definitely one of them,” he added.
India’s pace attack is still unsettled. Jasprit Bumrah’s place looks secure, while Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj are among those competing for the remaining places. Prasidh Krishna missed the series through injury, and Kamboj took the chance.
At Auckland, Arshdeep and Auqib Nabi shared the new ball, with Kamboj coming in at first change. India want a wicket-taking option for the middle overs, and the plan is to see what each bowler offers. Kamboj’s ODI debut was forgettable. Against West Indies at New Chandigarh, he went for 82 from nine overs, with Shai Hope taking 42 off 31, including six fours. His Test debut last year, as an injury replacement, brought a single wicket at a cost of 89 runs from 18 overs.
His coach Satish Rana, who has worked with him since Under-14, said the Auckland spell came from a simple routine.
“Right through the training in Karnal, all he focused on was line and length. If you keep hitting the off-stump channel and make the ball move from back of a length, on most days you will have a good outing. It is up to the batsmen to take you on,” Rana said.
Rana mentioned Kamboj is now clocking in the high 130s and working on his fitness to add pace. Kamboj is also a handy lower-order batter, which adds to his case. His middle-overs bowling is still developing, though his natural line could suit South African pitches, where the ball quickens and seams.
The 2027 World Cup will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India sit in Group 1 with Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Ten Full Member teams have already booked their places, with the last four spots to be decided at the qualifier from February 26.