New Delhi: India’s decision to recall veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand has sparked fresh discussion over the team’s fast bowling combination ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Bhuvneshwar’s selection, pointing to the pacer’s performances and fitness. He also questioned why experienced bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have not been given a consistent run in the side.
Jaffer argued that Bhuvneshwar’s return should not be viewed simply through the lens of age. He stressed that India need a balance between experienced campaigners and younger players, particularly with a major global tournament approaching.
The former batter also raised questions about India’s current pace options. Several bowlers, including Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna, have been tried, while Nitish Reddy has also been considered as a pace option. However, Jaffer suggested that the team has yet to establish a settled group of seamers.
His preferred ODI pace attack would feature Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. According to Jaffer, India should prioritise their most experienced and proven fast bowlers for the World Cup before beginning another rebuilding phase.
Shami’s situation has drawn particular attention. Jaffer believes the experienced pacer should be considered for the Test side as well, arguing that his quality remains valuable when India need proven match winners.
He also expressed hope that Shami gets another opportunity in Test cricket and suggested that the upcoming selection decisions could have a major bearing on his international future.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, India’s pace combination is likely to remain one of the key selection debates. Bhuvneshwar’s comeback, Bumrah’s workload, Shami’s availability and Siraj’s role could all influence how the team shapes its bowling attack for the tournament.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
