Shivam Dube Gets Surprise India ODI Recall After Nitish Kumar Reddy Injury… Can This Be His 2027 World Cup Breakthrough?

Shivam Dube has been handed a significant opportunity after being named as Nitish Kumar Reddy’s replacement in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. The change comes after Reddy was ruled out with a quadriceps injury, forcing the selectors to make a late adjustment ahead of the 50-over leg of the tour.

India and England are currently locked in a five-match T20I series, with the ODI series scheduled to begin after the conclusion of the shortest-format contests. While the ODI squad had already been announced, Reddy’s injury has opened the door for Dube to make a long-awaited return to India’s ODI setup.

A Crucial Chance for Shivam Dube

The recall marks Shivam Dube’s return to India’s ODI squad after nearly two years. The left-handed all-rounder has impressed with consistent performances in T20 cricket, establishing himself as a dependable middle-order batter while also improving significantly with the ball.

Dube’s ability to contribute in both departments makes him a valuable option in white-ball cricket. His recent performances have shown greater maturity, particularly in pressure situations where he has delivered crucial breakthroughs with the ball while maintaining disciplined spells.

Although his ODI experience remains limited, Dube now has the chance to prove that he can replicate his T20 success in the 50-over format.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy Faces Another Injury Setback

For Nitish Kumar Reddy, the injury comes at an unfortunate time. The talented all-rounder is continuing his recovery from a quadriceps issue sustained during India’s third ODI against Afghanistan.

The setback has already forced him to miss the T20I assignments against Ireland and England, and he will now also sit out the entire ODI series.

Before the injury, Reddy had emerged as one of India’s promising pace-bowling all-rounders. His performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 strengthened his credentials, with the youngster regularly taking the new ball and delivering important wickets during crucial stages of matches.

World Cup 2027 Race Gets More Interesting

With Hardik Pandya also unavailable because of injury concerns, Dube now has a golden opportunity to strengthen his case as India’s backup pace-bowling all-rounder.

A productive ODI series against England could significantly improve his chances of remaining in the selectors’ plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. His left-handed batting also provides balance to India’s middle order, while his improved bowling offers the team another reliable all-round option.

If Dube capitalises on this opportunity, the competition for India’s all-rounder’s role ahead of the World Cup could become even more intense.

India’s ODI Squad for England Series

India’s squad for the three-match ODI series features Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Shivam Dube.

With several senior players returning for the ODI format, the series is expected to provide valuable insights into India’s preparations for future ICC tournaments.