New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- India head coach Gautam Gambhir has stressed the importance of having a fully fit and match-ready squad ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying players such as Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah will be central to the team's plans in South Africa.
"You can't go into a World Cup half-cooked," Gambhir said in an interview on JioHotstar.
"Whether it's Hardik (Pandya), whether it's Jasprit Bumrah, they are going to be extremely important for us in (South) Africa."Hardik has not played an ODI for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy and is set to miss the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies. He is, however, expected to return to competitive 50-over cricket with India A during their one-day series against A...