Middle‑Order Instability Clouds India's 2027 World Cup Plans

India's middle order appears fragmented. In the recent England series, Ishan Kishan was promoted to the No. 4 slot for one match, while Shreyas Iyer was tried in the same position in another game. KL Rahul’s batting position has been shuffled repeatedly, and a clear hierarchy has not emerged. With eleven ODIs and the Asia Cup still to be played before the World Cup, the management must lock down a reliable middle‑order combination. The lower order also raises concerns, as Washington Sundar and Akshar Patel have underperformed relative to expectations.