‘Selectors might be forced to think’: Irfan Pathan backs Anshul Kamboj for ODI World Cup 2027

Anshul Kamboj (Image Agency) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Anshul Kamboj has the potential to be a contender for India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad, suggesting that consistent performances could make it difficult for selectors to overlook the young fast bowler.Kamboj impressed with the ball in India’s five-wicket win over New Zealand in the rain-hit first ODI in Auckland on Wednesday. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer, who made good use of the tie conditions, returned figures of 2/22 from his 10 overs to send down an impressive 46 runs.His disciplined effort played an important role in restricting New Zealand to 185. Arshdeep Singh led the charge with four wickets while Gurnoor Brar claimed three as India bundled out the hosts.India then chased down a revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs, with Virat Kohli leading the way with a commanding 74 off 51 deliveries.In a video by Cricinfo, Pathan backed Kamboj to make further progress and pointed out that his difficult introduction to international cricket should be seen in the context of the circumstances surrounding his debut.The former all-rounder felt that Kamboj was not given enough time to recover after traveling before being pushed into Test cricket. The fast bowler made his Test debut last year as an injury replacement but endured a tough outing, managing just one wicket while conceding 89 runs in 18 overs at an economy rate of nearly five.Pathan emphasized that adjusting to different conditions, recovering from travel and preparing for the demands of Test cricket can take time for the fast bowler.“He will definitely be one of the bowlers. We have to understand what happened during the Test match. It is not easy to play a Test match after travelling. It takes time for any bowler to adapt to the climate, recover and then go from there. Anshul needed more time to play Test cricket at that time,” he said.Pathan also highlighted Kamboj’s versatility, especially his ability to contribute with both the new ball and the old ball. He pointed to the pacer’s death-bowling skills, including his ability to deliver wide yorkers from around the wicket, which he demonstrated while representing CSK.According to Pathan, the many skills at his disposal make Kamboj a valuable option going forward. He also backed the youngster to rise up the rankings if he continues with performances like the one against New Zealand.“What I like about him is that he can mix with the new ball and he has some good death bowling skills as seen with CSK. He can go around the wicket and mix wide yorkers. In this match he bowled with the old ball (against NZ in the 1st ODI). He has that package, with the old ball, the new ball and can nibble the ball as far as the future is concerned. He doesn’t want to be surprised as far as the future is concerned. about one of the likely World Cups, he is certainly one of them,” he added.Kamboja’s performance in Auckland comes after a rocky start to his international career, with his domestic and IPL performances raising expectations ahead of his India debut.His first ODI appearance against the West Indies at New Chandigarh was particularly difficult. The side conceded 82 runs in nine overs, with West Indies captain Shai Hope doing much of the damage. Hope scored 42 runs off 31 deliveries against Kamboja, including six fours.However, a disciplined performance against New Zealand was a reminder of his bowling ability. With the ability to operate at different stages of the innings, Kamboj has now given himself an opportunity to strengthen his case for a longer run in India’s ODI setup, with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.