India need consistency in selection heading into World Cup, says Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj, who won the player-of-the-tournament accolade when India lifted the trophy on home soil in in 2011, feels too many changes so close to the global event could impact the team negatively.

India's long road to the ODI World Cup starts with a three-match series at home against West Indies on 27 September.

"They need to focus on building the same team to play in a year's time, because you don't want to make big changes at the last moment," Yuvraj told Cricinfo.

"Whoever your players are, whether they are 16 or 20, it's important that everybody gets game time because obviously now there's more T20s and less 50-over cricket.

"Whatever matches there are, it's important that players get enough game time to prepare for the World Cup.

"Every time India have faltered is when they've made some massive changes at the last moment or in the tournament.

"So I think it's important that we stick to a team that we believe can lift the 2027 World Cup and stick by those guys whether they fail or succeed till that moment. Belief in the squad is very important."

With the 50-over showpiece set to be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, teams are mulling combinations that will best suit conditions in the respective countries.

For India the future of Rohit Sharma is still up in the air while seam-bowling allrounder Hardik Pandya has picked up plenty of injuries in recent times.

Yuvraj added: "Every country has a different set of players. Some teams have more allrounders, some teams have more specific batters and bowlers. You have to go with the best combination.

"The best combination will always be 12, 13, 14 players and [pick the 15th] according to conditions. Whether you want to play an extra spinner, fast bowler or allrounder, you have got to go with the best. You've got to go with your top 11 match-winners who you feel can win the game."