‘He’s got his visa already’ – Sunil Gavaskar backs Ishan Kishan for 2027 World Cup

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his support behind Ishan Kishan as a strong contender for India’s squad at the 2027 ODI World Cup, describing him as a complete player who has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Gavaskar’s praise comes after Kishan produced a stunning innings of 125 runs from just 79 balls, registering his second ODI century. The knock marked a significant milestone in his comeback, arriving nearly four years after his memorable maiden ODI double century.

The left-handed batter’s return to form has strengthened his standing among the selectors, earning him a place in India’s upcoming ODI squad for the Afghanistan series ahead of rivals Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant.

Speaking after Kishan’s match-winning performance, Gavaskar suggested that the 27-year-old has already made a compelling case for inclusion in India’s plans for the next World Cup cycle, stating that his all-round abilities make him one of the most valuable options in the limited-overs setup.

“I think he’s got his visa already. Somebody else has to really play out of their skin to keep Ishan Kishan out of the team. He’s such a big contributor in the T20 format and he’s batting so well,” said Gavaskar as quoted by India Today.

Gavaskar highlighted the significant improvement in Kishan’s technique over the last 18 months, noting that the flaws that once affected his batting have largely been eliminated. According to the former India captain, Kishan has worked hard on his game, becoming a more complete and reliable batter while retaining the aggressive stroke play that makes him such a dangerous limited-overs player.

“Look at that shot Graham [Swann] was talking about, the lofted extra-cover drive. He’s got a very good defence as well. Anything short, he’s quick to go on to the back foot and pull it away for sixes. He’s just a complete player now, and he’s become a complete player over the last year and a half. Earlier, you thought maybe around the off stump he was a little vulnerable. He didn’t quite have that lofted extra-cover drive. That’s what he’s got now, and it’s so hard to keep him quiet,” said Gavaskar.