Gautam Gambhir downplays India–Pakistan World Cup hype, insists focus is on winning 2027 title
India head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed the fuss over a potential India–Pakistan encounter at the 2027 ODI World Cup after India’s eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati, speaking on the eve of the ICC’s schedule announcement for the tournament on October 1 in Cape Town. He said the priority for India is to compete for and win the World Cup rather than concentrate on one particular fixture.
The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will feature 14 teams in an expanded edition with a new three-stage format before the semi-finals and final; it also marks the event’s return to Africa after 24 years. India enter with unfinished business after their defeat to Australia in the 2023 final in Ahmedabad, and the edition “could also carry added significance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with the veteran batters potentially featuring in their final World Cup campaign,” the source noted.
Asked about the attention an India–Pakistan match would attract, Gambhir said there was no special preference. "I have no preference. I think our job isn't just to play against Pakistan; our job is to go there, compete, and try to win the World Cup," Gambhir told Star Sports. "I've said this before: Pakistan is just another team we have to play. Ultimately, when you go to South Africa, the goal is to perform well and win the tournament, rather than focusing solely on beating Pakistan."
Gambhir acknowledged that public and broadcast discussion around that fixture will be intense but stressed a different tone inside the squad. "I know broadcasters, emotions, and the public will keep talking about it, but in the dressing room, we try to keep things as simple and calm as possible," he said, describing the team's internal approach to high-profile matchups.
The coach underlined an urgency to finalise combinations before the World Cup, saying India could have only around 20 ODIs left to assess players and combinations. He pointed to Aaqib Nabi’s selection against West Indies as an example of giving prospects meaningful opportunities while there is still time to judge their suitability for the tournament.
Gambhir insisted experimentation must occur under realistic pressure rather than in inconsequential matches. "It wasn't a dead rubber, and we also want to put players under pressure," he said, and used young pacer Gurnoor Brar to illustrate the point: "The more he bowls in tough conditions and high-pressure situations, the better it is for Indian cricket. You could easily have him bowl defensive spells in the middle overs and get good figures, but exposing him to those critical moments is what truly benefits Indian cricket."
With the ICC set to release the World Cup schedule on October 1 in Cape Town, Gambhir reiterated that the camp’s work will concentrate on building the right squad and preparing players for pressure, using the remaining bilateral matches to test options ahead of the tournament.
